PR 4964 
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1827 










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DESCRIPTIVE POEM; 

/■ 

^Y JOHN M'CAF.RAN, OF LONDONDERRY, ESQ 



IVITH 



HXSTOIIICAZ. HOTES, 

(-7>¥STRATirE OP SOME OF '^HE SPLENDID EVENTS THAT ■AV| 

SHED SUCH REFULGENT LUSTRE ON THK IIEIGN OF 

BRIAN BOROIHME, KING OF IRELAND ; 



BY GEORGE PEPPER OF NEW YGRk', 



Let Erin remember the days of old 

Ere faitiiless sous betrayed her •, 
When Kennedy wore the collar of gold, 

Which ho won from he proud invader : 
When her King, with standard of green uiifurrd, 

Led the Red Branch Knights to danger 
Ere the Emerald gem of the Western World 

Was set in the crown of a stranger. 

— = ^ 

Hrmted «nd Published, and to be had of the several Beol«e^ 
lers throughout the Union. 



./. SrLoiigklin, Print. 

1-827 



of W45r^\^^ 



^'^^'^'% 









^-x 



Soiiiho'n jDi-/r;V/ rf New York. ss. 

BE It remembered, that on the 17th day of May. A. D, 182"/. 
iu the 51. St year of ths lad^pendence of tlie United States of Ameri- 
f.ai, Daoiel Tiniony, of the said District, hath d<?po5itcd in thi? office the 
title of a Book, the right whereof he ciaiiriF as Proprietor,in the words 
followinq^, to wit: The Battle of Clontarf; a Descriptive Poem: hy Joha 
M'C.irtan, Esq, of Londonderry: with Historical Notes illustrative of 
some of the spiendid events that hf>ve shed such refill >rent lustre on the 
reijnof Urian Boroihme,King oflreljkid: By George Pcppcr,of N. York. 

Let Erin remember the days of old 

E:e faithless sons betray'd her; 

When Kennedy wore tlic collar of cold, 

Which he won from the protul invader: 

When her Kirgwilh standard of greeu urfurl-J, 

Led the P..ea Branch Knights to danger 

Ere the Emerald green of the Western World 

Was set in the crown of a Stranger. 
In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United S;atcE,^entitled 
'^ An Act for the encouragu'*.snt of Learning, by securing the copies of 
Maps, Charts, and Books, to the nnthors and proprietor? of such copies, 
during the time therein nientioned." And also to an Act, entitled "An 
Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of 
Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Book?, to the author* 
and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and 
extending the benefits tber'!of to the arts of designing, ensraving, and 
etching historical and other prints." FRED. J. BETTS, 

J«ne L ClrrJi of the S;ovlhern Disinct rf^U■lv York. 



P 



4n 



INTRODUCTIOIN. 



An ardent and enthusiastic love of country is an in- 
herent characteristic of the Irish people. — No matter 
in what clime an Irishman may be cast by destiny, — 
no matter whether he loiters in the floral bowers of 
prosperity, or struggles, like Sisyphus, in the unavailing 
effort of rolling the stone of poverty against the moun- 
tain of adverse fortune, still the compass of his recol- 
lection continually points to his native land, — his own 
dear Ireland! — the illumined polar star to which his 
fondest wishes turn with all the prejudice of national 
feeling, and patriotic affection. H3 is often compell- 
ed by ruthless oppression and vindictive peisecution 
to tear himself from the arms of connubial love, pater- 
nal affection, and the sacred ties of friendship; to aban- 
don the home of his father^s, and go in search of that 
bread, which the task-m'^sters oi' his country deny him ; 
but under any circumstance, he can never forget the 
dear scenes of his 3'outh, the happy days of other 
times, when the flowery landscape of life was seen 
decked in prismatic hues, and illuminated by the 
brilliant rainbow of anticipated delights I — Whether 
•nslaved in the eastj or free in the west, the pastoral 



* INTRODUCTIOP?. 

/alley — ibc babbling rivulet — the moss clad ruius o^' 
the mouldering abbey, in which 

*' Many a saint, and many a hero trod;" 
die grove-sheltered cottage, where he first awoke frona 
the tranquil slunxbers of existence, and the green hills 
of his school-boy amusements — with alt the soft and 
endearing associations which they awaken, never cease 
to warm his imagination-, nor, to his latest hour, d^ 
they depart from his memory. The patriotic and 
elegant productions of Lady Morgan often sooth© 
the sorrows of his exile, while viewing the pristine 
glories of his country, in her splendid pages ; and the 
sublime and enrapturing strains of Moore, like the 
melody of seraphs' lyres, thrill his soul with the re- 
membrance of home, and communicate to his heart 
the electric spark that kindles the tenderest, and most 
delightful sympathies, which can irradiate the gloom 
of regret. 

• After the publication of my remarks in the Nation- 
al Advocate, under the signature of Finival, or 
the derisive, and burlesque mek)-drama of Brian 
BoRoiHME, (lately exhibited at the Chatham Theatre 
in an insulting manner, more calculated to give hila- 
rity to the midnight orgies of Bacchanalians than te 
contribute to the intellectual amusement of an intelli- 
gent Irish audience,) the following Poem was pre- 
sented to me, with a request that I would, in addition 
to my farmer comments on the splendid reign of the 
illustrious Brian, illustrate the description of the Bat- 
tle of Clontarf with historical notes that should 
wipe away the stigma, which the manager of the 
Cil^tham Thea-TRE attempted to fasten on the m,e~ 



^TRODUCTION. 5 

mory of the greatest monarch that ever sat on the Irish 
throne. To naaligu, distort, and misrepresent the Irish' 
character have been, since the invasion of Henry II., 
the alpha and omega of English prejudice. We, who 
sent forth Teachers in the sixth century to enlighten 
the darkness of Europe* — to diffuse the blessings of 
religion in Scotland, and to tame its savage Picts by 
the discipline of civilization and instruction ; we, who 
carried the terror of Our arras, under a FiNGAL,aCoNN, 
and an O'Niall, to the extremities of Europe; — 
we, who defied the Roman power in the zenith of its 
jlory ;t we, who produced Usher, Swift, Boyle, Gold- 
smith, Sterne, Grattan, Sheridan, Curran, and Burke; 

* "So much fame did the School of Armagh and Clonard 
acquire, that tlie Kings of France, Spain, and Denmark, sent 
their children to them for instruction. In the School of Clo- 
nard in the year 525 there were three thousand students." — 
Co Igan^s Annals of Ireland. 

'• The great Charlemagne was educated by an Irish Teacher.'' 
Ilanmers Chronicle. 

t Agricola when Governor of Britain wrote a letter to Cor- 
mack King of Ireland, demanding of him to make submission 
and pay tribute to the Roman- Government, which so incensed 
tlie Irisli Monarch that he sent a message of defiance to the 
Koman General ; and ordered a large body of troops to go 
with the utmost speed to the assistance of the Picls, who were 
then harrassed by the Roman legions. The expedition was 
commanded by the King's brother, a Prince of skill and brave- 
ry, who fiercely attacked the R6mans, and made a successful 
incursion into South Britain, took several captives and returned 
home with an immense acquisition of spoil and trophies. — Ta- 
citus, whose authority must be acknowledged irrefragible, 
says, that the ports of Ireland were better known from com- 
merce, through commercial men, than those of Britain. 

"That Ireland was well known to the ancients is proved by 
1* 



X I.NTRODUCTJOI^ 

iind we that can now boast of having a ModRE, Labt 

Morgan, Miss Edg worth, Mr. Plunkett, Judge Bush, 
Mr, O'Connell, and the eloquent Sheil,* to be set 

he best authorities. — Diony£.ius in his Geography mentions 
Isrne as a country famous for its immense woods of Oak, Pto- 
lemy says the SHme. Apuleius, in his Book De Mundo, on the 
authority, as he says, of Aristoile ; and Theophrastus speaks 
of it as a country of rich soil rind temperate climate. Polybius 
hag made several allusions in his writings to Ibernca. Strabo 
stated that Ireland was a cold country. Plutarch said the 
Irish were of Cettic origin." — Irish Antiquarian Researchea. 
Dublin, 1826- 

'* Althoagh EnLgH&h dominion, like the deadly Upas Tree, 
blasted the germinating buds of Irish talent ; although its into- 
lerance was employed to arm passion and prejudice against 
the country. " in sf>he of these and many other obstacles, the 
moral strength of Ireland, a pation always distinguished for 
the natural endowments ot its population, rose superior to the 
cruel pressure of its political iuflictions ; and the domestic ac- 
tivity and intellectual improvement of the people — slow and 
limited as they appear, whea compared with the advances of 
the sister kingdom — proceeded with a rapidity little short of 
miraculous, under so stulitfying a system of legislation and 
government. It was then (1800) that the light of JiAtional ge- 
nius concentrated its lo.ng scattered rays to a point, and 
shining steadily from its proper focus, threw out those inex- 
linguishable sparks of moral lustre — 

" Which are wont to ffive 

Light to a world, and make a nation live." — 

it was then that the powerful collision of active, ardent and 
energetic minds produced that brilliant burst of talent, which 
for something more than a century, flung over the political 
darkness of the land, a splendour to which her struggles and 
Iier misfortunes served only to give a stronger relief, and a 
more resj)lendent effect. For the last century England had a 
running account with Ireland, for dramatic contributions when 
ber own resources had, by being too largely drawn upon, near 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

up as targets for the poisoned arrows of calumny ani 
defamation, is an act of cruel and aggressive injustice^ 
for which England must some day or other, suffer oa 
the burning altars of retributive expiatiOxNT ! 

Some of the illiberal and unlettered Editors of this 
City, borrowing their impressions from the intolenant 
London newspapers, often indulge in silly tirades 
against the Irish character, who, while they so quickly 
descry the mote in our eyes, are insensible of the 
beam in their own. The Americans are in the habit 
of making, what have been called. Bulls as well as 
the Irish ; and any reader of discernment may find 
as ludicrous blunders in the Commercial Advertiser y 
and in the N.Y. American^ as any that can be selected 
from Miss Edgeworth's Collection. Let me enumerate 
a few of the prominent Bulls of New- York — viz. For 
instance, " The Marble Manufacturing CoinjJanyl' 
(icliat a felicitous idea ! ) " Quill Manufactory y' 
''Blind Factory;'^ '- Cash tStort -" In John-street 
the following notice was exhibited in a window a feu 
days ago — '' l^'iis house and store loill be removed over 
the 2cay, on the first of May ;^^ and on the Sign board 
of a Teacher in Cherry-street, is painted — ^^ Book- 
keejiing taught here by Grammar P^ While on this 
subject I will quote the opinion of a literary traveller 
of great eminence, who lately visited Ireland. — " The 

\y become bankrupt. — Ireland produced almost all tlie best 
dramatic u-riters on the British stnge: Congreve, Howard 
f^outher, Steele, Faiquahr, Phillips, Kelly, Jones, Orrery, Tatc^ 
Concanen, Dobbs, Bickerstafll', Broof<, Cetitlivre, Gi iffiihs, Jcp- 
son, Murphy, Macklin, West, Goldsmith, SliCiidan, Sheil, 
■ = '^?. Mafurin. &,c. Sic," — Vide Lady Morgan's Akscn(€iisnK. 



^ INTRODUCTION. 

native Irisliman/' says be, " commits no more biiin- 
tJers than his neighbours, when he speaks in the lari- 
gunge which he perfectly understands. His humour^ 
however, in any language, is always inexhaustible, 
and his errors are never the errors of the heart. Th©' 
Irisfi is so very idiomatic, and posesses so little in 
common with the other languages of modern Europe, 
except the Celtic, and at the same time so very figu- 
rative, that it is difficult for any one who thinks in it 
not to make Bulls. It is partly on this account that an 
unlettered Irishman speaks in glowing and metapho- 
rical diction. It is impossible for him to separate 
the language of his early years from his habits of 
thinking ; he, therefore, very naturally accommodates 
the acquired tongue to the idiomatic constr.'ction and 
phraseology of his own, and imperceptibly enriches 
it with ail the tropes and figures with which his mind 
is familiar. Besides, the Irish have an ardour of mind, 
an enthusiasm and impetuosity, which hurry them 
along, and produce that confusion of ideas in which 
hulls chiefly consist." 

The ancient history of Ireland, like that of man} 
other countries, is involved in the dark mists of fabu- 
lous obscurity, and I fear that no new lights can ever 
dawn that will dispel the impenetrable gloom of ob- 
livion that shrouds it. For our Manuscripts have 
been carried off by th(i Danes, and St. Patrick, in his 
zeal to annihilate every memorial of paganism, caused 
all the Druidical Books to be committed to the flames. 
Oar claims to very remote antiquity, are, however, 
founded on the immovable basis of historical proofs. 
Ware, Boale, and the Scottish historian. Buchannan. 



INTRODUCTION. 9' 

concur in tbe opinion that Ireland n'as first iuliabitetl 
by the descendants of Japhet, about three centuries 
after the flood. According to their authority Par- 
tholanus, the grand son of Gomer, having collected a 
fleet, resolved on setting out on an expedition of dis- 
covery, and after a protracted voyage succeeded in 
landing on the western coast of tlie Island, on the 14tli 
ofMay, with one hundred soldiers, and a great num- 
ber of Greek women. But it is said that about three 
hundred years after the country was thus colonized all 
the inhabitants were swept awr«y by a dreadful plague, 
which utterly destroyed every human being on the Is- 
land. Shortly after this catastrophe another colony 
arrived from the east, under the direction of Nemi- 
©lus, a man renowned for courage and military genius. 
He was elected King by his followers and the coun- 
try flourished under his sway. He was daring and 
ambitious, and he engaged in an unsuccessful war 
with some African pirates, the result of which proved 
disastrous to him and his subjects; for the pirates, hav- 
ing a large naval force, found no difficulty in subjuga- 
ting the whole Island under the yoke of their despotism. 
The tyranny of the victers was so cruel and insup- 
portable, that the Irish were happy when they ob- 
tained permission to leave the country. Camden 
states that they embarked on board a fleet of 11 30 
ships at Waterford, under the command of the three 
grandsons of Nemkdius, and sailed for Greece. Af-** 
ler a lapse of 200 years the descendants of Nemedius 
returned from Greece to Ireland. They were con- 
ducted by five Princes of eminent reputation, and no 
sooner had they landed than they commenced hostili- 
ties. ?>nd trained so manv brilliant » •^^'r»ri<»s that the 



ig liNTRODUCIlOiH. ^ 

inhabitants recognized them as sovereigQS, and iUa 
Island was divided into five kingdoms for them. The 
subjects of these Kings were called Firbolgs. ^ The 
Firbolgs were, according to historical assertion, ver}' 
active, learned and valiant men ; and Lave left in the 
mounts and round towers of Ireland lasting monu- 
ments of their skill in military' architecture. The 
Firbolgs were in process ef time expelled, or finally 
subdued by the Tuathde Dennans, a warlike nation 
ef Necromancers, who came from Attica and Boetia. 
As soon as they were landed they burned all their 
shipping to intimate to the natives the resolution the}^ 
Iiad formed of never again returning to the country 
of their birth. The learned biographer of poor Der- 
niody (Dr. Raymond) has written several ingenious 
essays in support of the opinion, that the Druidical 
order was first established in Ireland by this Phoeni- 
cian colony. Mr. Lhuyd, the celebrated Welsh An- 
tiquarian, has brought strong historical testimony to 
sustain the conjecture. The Tuath de Dennatis were 
so completely versed in the art of magic, it is said, 
that they could even restore the dead to life, and by 
waving their necromantic wands, they could raise ful- 
ly armed those warriors who had fallen in battle tlu; 
day before. They had many curiosities which pos- 
sessed the power of enchantment. These were a 
sword, a spear, a cauldron, and the celebrated marble 
chair, or " stone of destiny,''^ on which the kings of 
Ireland and afterwards those of Scotland, were crown- 
ed.* But neither their witchery nor magic spells 

*This estraordinary ?toDe wliich possessed such miraculous 
powers, was brought by the Tualh de Dennan colony frnm 
<treecc, It was caHcd Li« FiaL from which Ireland derived 



INTRODUCTION. 1 1 

were able to preserve the dominion of those Necro,. 
mancers in Ireland, when it was invaded by the Ga- 
delians. 

The next descent was made on Ireland by the Ga- 
delians, who were the descendants of a noble race of 
heroes who figured in Egypt, and spread the fame of 
their military exploits over the world. Their chief, 
Gathelus, was a man of great reputation in Egypt, and 
was, it is said, intimately acquainted with Moses the 
Jewish Legislator. His ;nother was Scota, the daugh- 
ter of Pharoah, by Nynl the son of a Scythian Mo- 
narch, contemporary with Nimrod. 

the name of Innis Fail. Ail the monarchs of Ireland, from tlie 
time o{ Lughnidh o{ the Tuath de Dennan race, A. M. 2765 tj» 
tlie reign of Muircartagli, the son of Earca, A. D. 513 were 
solemnly inaugurated on the Lid Fail, which, until that period, 
was kept with great care at the Royal Palace of Tara, the chief 
scat of the Irish Kings. Fergus, the brother of Muircartagh, 
bfing called to the throne oiAiba, h% Scotland was then named, 
" procured from his brotheV the loan of the Lia Fail, that on 
it he might, with greater shew of religious solemnity, be in- 
augurated King of his new possessions. The stone was never 
returned to Ireland, but remained in Scotland until Edward 
I. of England, invaded that country, A. P.'1296, and carried 
t)ff with him into his kingdom the Scostish Regalia, among which 
was the sacred stone of Destiny . From that period to the pre- 
sent day it has remained in England, and since the reign of 
James I. has continued to serve the purpose ior which it 
was so long used in lYeland and Scotland ; the kings of Eng- 
land from his time down to the present sovereign, George \Y. 
having been crowned on it. There was a prophesy relating' to 
this stone, that wlierever the Lia Fail should be preserved 
there a Prince of Scottish, that is, Iiish race, should reign. Ano- 
ther wonderful quality ascribed to this stone was, that when a 
Prince was to be inaugurated upon it, if it was the will of Hea- 
ven he should reign, the stone emitted a sound ; but on the 



VZ INTRODUCTION. 

The Gadielians, called also Scotsyfrom queen Scot4/< 
landed in Ireland^ according to Whitaker and O'Con- 
nor, about 1300 B. C. under the command of Heber 
and Heremon,two sons of Milesius, king of Spain,, 
from whom were descended all the kings of Ireland 
«lown to the English conquest.* Heber and Here- 
MON collected all their forces and attacked the Dana- 
wians with great fury and impetuosity, and gained a 
signal victory over them. The conflict, it appears 
by O'Halloran, took place at Tralee on the I7th day 
of the month Bel, or May, in the year of the World^ 
according to the Hebrew computation, 2735. The loss 
of the Milesians consisted of three hundred souls, 
among whom were two venerable Druids, who stimu- 

€ontrs»ry it was silent if the tandidnte for the soTerelgnty was 
rejected.. It emitted a sound under every King that mounted 
the throne of Ireland from tie time of Lughaighd, Long hand, 
to the birth of Christ, but it never afterwards emitted a somul 
under any King. For the Demon that resided in it became 
dumb, and every idol lost its por. er at the time of that illustri- 
ous birth which was born of the blessed Virgin Mary. — Vide, 
ihe letter of Mr. E. 0"Ridly, Secretary to the Ibtrno Celtic So- 
ciety, and author of the frisit Dictionary, to Sir William Bel- 
tham author of Irith Antiquarian Researches. Vol. I. Pa§:e 33. 
Ware, Keating, and Warner, concur in attributing: oracular 
Virtues to this stone. It is now in Westminster Abbey. — 
Some historians stated that it was part of Jacob's Pillar. " It 
must be owned," says Warner, "that the coronation of the 
Kings of Great Britain upon this stone seems to confirm its title 
of the " Sloneof Destiny.''^ 

* Miltsians signify in the native Irish, Clana Miledh, or 
the posterity of the Hero. Milesius was distinguished by the 
jiatronymic appellation of Miledh Espaine, or the champion ^' 



INTR0D(;CT1©N. in 

iated their courage and buoyed up their sinking hopes 
by constantly assuring them that the intervention of 
divine power would make the victory certain.* This 
victory gave a death-blow to the dominion of the 
Danaans in Ireland. Tli« Milesian Printes having 
no enemy to contend with, began to divide the coun- 
try between them, and to devise institutions for it5 
government and cultivation. Heber and Heremon 
iigreed to leave the regulations ol the division to their 
brother Amergia, who was appointed higlvpriest and 
law-giver. To Heber, the eldest son, was assigned the 
southern part of the kingdom, while the northern fell 
to the lot of Heremon. Both parties were satisfied with 
the equitable disii'ibution of the partition. The Prin- 
ces lost no time in erecting palaces worthy of their 
rank and dignity. Heremon raised a magnificent palace 
in the county of Meath, which he called, in honour of 
his queen, Temor, or Tara,.as it was afterwards desig- 
nated by succeeding monarchs. The two royal broth- 
ers seemed to cherish the mcst ardent disposition of 
friendship towards eacb other ; but a dispute arose, 
like a sudden tempest, that threatened to disturb the 
existing harmony. The contest was owing to the "de- 
sire which Heber evinced of possessing a great Poet, 
and a matchless musician, who came with the expedi- 
tion from Spain. These men were unrivalled in their 
respective arts, so that each brother was determined 

* Two princesses lost their lives in the battle ; Scoia, the wi- 
•Jow of Milesius, and Fais, the wife of Un. They were buried 
■vith great funeral pomp at Glen Scota, near Tralee, where t, 
-/iperb raonuraent \y»s erected to their memories. 



to retoiii them. However, the chief Druid was. ajx 
pointed by both parties as an arbitrator, from whose . 
;yise decision none dare swerve. 

He cast lots, by which the Poet fell to the share of 
Iierenion,^and the musician to Heber. In subsequent 
timesLthe liards, ia consequence of this division, said 
that the south of Ireland produced the best musicians 
and ih© north the most brilliant poets.* The two 
brothers seemed to vie with each other in cultivating 

♦Treland was known in (he East by the name of the •' Sacred 
or Hyperborean fglapd," and much boasted of by the Priests 
mxid Poets of ApoUo, or the Sun, many ages b.efore the planting- 
of Christianity, which probably could hardly arise from any 
other circunistance, than (he island being sacred to the " God 
gS the silver bow," and greatly honouring- that order, which 
comprehended in Its sub-divisions their priests, philosophers, 
poets, and musicians. The Druids, or ancient Chaldees, came 
first to Irelanil from the East, and were influenced to take up 
their abode ia.,rt country watered and wooded like Eden, and 
affording sacred groves for their mysteries, by the same rea 
sons that determined the choice of the Phoenicians — climate 
and rich soil." — See Findicalion of the Irish Nation, Dublin, 
1802. " The Irish," says, that apostate reviler of his country 
(Giraidus Cambrensis) " carried the art of music to Italian per- 
fection." — Vide Ryan's Irish Worihi&s. K\\ literary foreigners 
have borne testimony to the pathos and melody of the Irish 
language, which is peculiarly adapted to give expression (olove 
and pitv. " 'Tis scarcely possible," says the accomplished 
Miss Brooks.. *' that any language can be more adapted to, 
I^yac poetry th?in^ the Irish; so great is the harmony and 
smoothness of its numbers; it is also possessed of a_ refined 
delicacy, a descriptive power, an exquisite tender simplicity 
of expression ; two or three little artless words, or perhaps % 
a single epithet will sometimes convey such an image of sentU 
ment or ^MfTering to the mind, that one lays down the book tv 
iQ^ at the giorittg picture " 



t:^TRODUCTIO]N". 

*ue fine arts, in improving the soil by agriculture^ and 
m meliorating the moral and physical condition of 
of their subjects. Happiness and tranqillity diffused 
their beneficent attributes over the land ; but this 
serene juncture of repose was like tiie balcyoo calm 
that precedes the bursting of a volcano, ft *;fas a 
meteor-flash that gleamed for a inoment, and tliS'n set 
in the dark clouds of discord, which at that fierioJ 
spread such a sombre g'loom 6ver the Irish liofizon. 
The ties that closely bound the two pfiriceB tt)g'ethei 
in the bonds of friendship were severed by the power 
of that influence which proved too formidable for the 
philosophy of Socrates, the wisdom of Solomon, the 
strength of Sampson, and the ambition of Napoleon 
— the potent and fascinating influence of JVoman. 
Yes, it was woman that first conjured up the demons 
of civil war and intestine dissension in Ireland. The 
The wife of Heremon was highly accomplished, and 
delighted in decorating the gardens and pleasure- 
grounds of her palace with every embellishment of 
art that could give ai charm to the beauties of nature. 
Her domains were ornamented by extensive vistas, 
verdant bowers, and meandering streams, so that they 
looked like the blooming vallies of Tempo when in- 
habited by the gods. The queen of Heber sighed for 
the possession of these romantic vales, and entreated 
her husband to solicit them from his brotlicr. 'The 
request was so unreasonable, that it v/as indignantW 
refused ; but so anxious and covetous was the lady 
to have the property of her sister, that she persuaded 
"''or husband to take possession of it by force of arms 



^Cy INTRODUCTION. 

Tlie queen of Hereraon, being a woman of lofty jspirii. 
regarded the demand as an insult, so that she instiga- 
ted Iier spouse to insist upon his title, and defend his 
right. The high-priest endeavoured to accomodate 
this unhappy difference, but in vain, for both ladies 
were obstinately determined — the one to demand and 
the other to refuse. A compromise could not be effect- 
pA even by the influential mediation of the Druids • 
?ind so implacable was the resentment of both par- 
ies, that a civil war became inevkable. 

Both Princes marshalled their armies v/illi the 
.greatest expedition, and coming to an engagement oo 
the plains of Geisol, they encountered each other 
with desperate valour and rage ; the conflict was ter- 
ribly sanguinary and obstinate, but after a heroic, 
struggle, victory j'lstly declared itself in favour of K«- 
remon. The forces of Ileber were annihilated in this 
battle, in v»^hich the aggressor lest his life and crown. 

Iii the preceding pages I have given an epitomised 
Viow of some interestng historical events, which I 
shall close by a few desultory remarks on the mission 
of Saint Patrick to Ireland, and on the glorious reign 
of Brian Boroihme. 

In the year of our Lord 379, the great Niall, of 
the Heremonian Dynasty, mounted the Irish throne.* 

* This monarch, whose splendid exploits shed such a bla/c 
jf i^lory on the page of our history, was disting^uishcd by (he 
liame of Niall of the nine hostages : (his nomenclature was 
bestowed upon him because he brought away hostages from 
different countries which he subdued. The brave INiall was, 
during one of his brilliant campaigns in Brittany, treacherour 
•v assRssinatcd by Eochaidh, the deposed king of Leinster 



INTRODUCTION. i; 

tie was a brave and accemplished Prince^ wlio uuited 
die wisdom of a philosopher tt> the chivalric courage 
of a champion. Possessing a "great army, and a nu- 
merous navy, his power was so formidable, tht it 
was courted and dreaded by ail the Monarchs of 
Europe. He was passionately fond of military glory, 
and immediately after his accession, he sought an 
""opportunity of gratifying his towering ambition. The 
Caledonians, at that juncture, being greatly oppress- 
ed and harrassed by the Romans, offered to become 
tributary to the Irish Monarch, on condition that he 
Ivould drive the invaders out of their country, and 
■ ()rotect them from future aggression. This offer was 
joyfully received by Niall, who instantly sailed for 
Scotland at the head of a formidable army, with which 
he soon drove the Roman legions into Britain. He 
made a compact with the Albanian Scots, which sti- 
pulated that an Irish prince should be their sovereign,, 
md that the country, which was then called Alhania^'^ 

* That Scotland is indebted to Ireland for her orig-in, is an 
sucontestible fact, which even Buchannan has admitted. To 
«^S the Scotch are indebted for letters and religion : to us the(r 
owe the nobility of their blood, and the lustre and eminence of 
their families. We have the authority of Camden, Routh,jind 
Usher, that Scotland "continued tributary to the mother sove. 
reignty, till released from such impost by the authority and in 
fluence of tlie presumptive heir to the Irish crown, the great 
Columb Kille, (the dove of the church,) whose sanctified men^ 
tal sublimity preferred the renowned mission of becoming the 
^?postle of the gospel light to the Picts, or, as Dr. Johnson has 
It, *'to roving clans and savage barbarians," to the transient 
Way of the sceptre of Ireland ; and that at length, upon the 
-Jemise of the Albanian, the Scottish, or Irish dynastj' prevai! 



LXTRODt CTIO'N. 

•should ever after assume the appellation of ^'ScotLO 
M.inor,''^ in order to perpetuate and preserve their ori- 
gin and descent from Ireland, which at that time, and 
for ages before, was designated ^^ Scotia Major. '^' Hav- 
ing settled the affairs of Scotland, and allayed the spi- 
-iitof turbulence and sedition in that country^ he fitted 
out a large fleet, in which he embarked with a great 
army for Gaul, where he gained several victories ; 
after which he returned in triumph to Ireland, with 
the spoils and caj)tives of his conquest. Among the 
captives was Patrick, afterwards the renowned 
Apostle of Ireland. Some illiberal Scottish writers 
have asserted, in the face of historical truth, that the 
Irish were immersed in barbarism, when St. Patrick 
arrived in Ireland. This is a mere bubble of Scotch 
^prejudice and envy, which the breath of historical 
evidence has long since bursted, as the literature, 
philosophy, and arts of the Irish Druids shone with, 

a, through which the present king of Great Britain derives 
his right and title to the throne." — Transactions of the Ucclic 
Society, vol I. p. 11. 

St. Coiumb Kil!e was a truly apostolic character. He wa^ 
lineally descended from. (he great Niali, of the nine hostage.^. 

His life was written by Manus O'Donnell, prince of Tyrcon- 
iiell, in 1520. St. Columba was the son of Felim O'Donnell, 
jirince of Ulster; he was born in tlie^year 521. Bede makes n 
very honourable mention of him. He erected many abbeys-; 
among them the monasteries of Kells, in the country of Meath .; 
Ardee, in the county of Louth ; Slane, in the county of Meath, 
and also the celebrated abbey of Columkille, in the island of 
lona, which had been granted to him by the king of the Pict« 
He was the apostle of the Caledonians, whom he converted tc 
Ohristianity .—inWi AiUiquarian Ixcscarchcs. \o\. l.y^. 118- 



LNtROlDUCTmN. iP 

refulgent britrhtness, when Albania was benighted in 
the gloom of ignorance. Camden says that Coi'' 
mack, the law-giver, the father-in-law of Fingal, in 
his famous book of ^^ Advice to Kings,-' which he 
wrot« for his son Garbrary, displayed such sound 
maxims of political wisdom and legislative justice, a? 
^vell as literar}' taste, as would reticct honour on the 
most enlightened legislator of Greece.'^ The old 
Irish fostered and protected genius, and the order of 
the Bards was held by them in the highest venera- 
tion,* and was liberally supported by every chieftain : 
and its influence, because it was intellectual, in many 
'^ases, was superior to that of the chief himself. 
Their soft or sublime effusions, which powerfully 
touched the passions, while they made the heart of 
the fiercest warrior glow with emotions of tender- 
ness and love, or animated, and roused with resistless 
energy to the martial combat, were regarded not 
merely as the inspirations of genius, but as the still 
loftier conceptions of beings whose intuitive minds 

* "There is no country in which poetry and music were held 
■in higher estimation, or cultivated to a greater extent, than in 
Ireland. Well might it be called ' the land of song and story/ 

Deivars visil io Ireland. 

' No nation under heaven (says the most patriotic and talent 
ed woman Irelad ever produce»i, Lady Morgan,) was evermore 
^enthusiastically attached to poetry and music, than the Irish. 
Formerly every family had its poet, or bard, called FUea Cro- 
farit : and indeed (he very language itself seems most felici- 
tously adapted to be the vehicle of poetic images ; for its en- 
ergy, strength, expression, and luxuriancy, never leave the 
bard at a loss for apposite terms to realize the thick coming 
fancies of his genius.' 

The illustrious Bacon dec^^ares, in his Sfflva, that ' do Tiarp 
has the sound so melting and so prolonged., as the Irish hart> 



25 IJNtRODUCIlON. 

were under tlie peculiar impulse of supernatural 
power. They alone could confer immortality in 
'•^ deathless verse,'^ and emblazon the deeds of the 
'lero by the brilliant "light of song.'' The manners 
of these bards were polished, and the tone of their 
moral feeling elevated and improved, and their sii- 
Idime and touching poetry was fraught with the en- 
thusiasm of a sublime superstition, that impelled the 
people to the exercise of ev*3ry manly virtue, to hero- 
ism, and military exploits. It is said that St. Patrick 
found us a pagan people. The assertion is false and 
unfounded,* for he has himself admitted, that our 
''Druids were remarkable for their learning and in- 
genuity." In difTasing the mild and purifying religion 
of the Gospel over Ireland, the talents of the Druids 
often frustrated his benign efforts. lie however suc- 
ceeded, in spite of their opposition, in dispelling tlie 
mists of druidical superstition from the understand- 
ing of our progenitors,! by opening the sacred vo- 

The celebrated Geminiani declared, after hearing the soft and 
enrapturing strains of the Irish Orpheus, (Carolan.) ' that he 
found no music, on the west side of the Alps, so original, plain" 
tive, and affecting, a§ the Irish.' The melancholy airs are uncom- 
tnonly pathetic, so much so, Tsays the eloquent and accomplish 
ffd Charles Phillips,) that I have heard of a distinguished Italian 
of gr eat musical taste, who, after listening to some of them, 
suddenly exclaimed, ' that tnnst be the music of a people uho 
have lost their freedom ." 

* In the year of the incarnation, 423, Palladius was s ent to 
he the first Bishop of the Scots, by Celestine, the Roman Pon- 
tiff."— jBerfe. 

f " It is universally admitted, thafcthere were Christian coxj 
prepjations in Ireland before the mission of Palladius, which 



INTRODUCTION. ;• 

iiini<2 of inspiration, and declaring the divine connscl 
of Heaven. When the meek and pious St. Patrick 
established the Christian dispensation in Ireland,* the 
Monarch committed to his charge the archives of 
Tara, in which there were several hundreds of vo- 
inmes, and many Ossianic manuscripts. The first 
Suggestion of his active zeal, was to purge the archives 
of all those books tha< related to heathen worship, 
or druidical mystery, and thus consign to eternal 
oblivion every trace and relic of the hitherto pro- 
vailing superstition. "On this occasion we are told, 
that near four hundred volumes of our ancient lite- 
rature were condemned to the flames, to the eternal 
regret of posterity.'' The Rev. Mr. O'Connor, in 
bis late admirable work, (The Ancient Chronicles of 

'ook pljice in A. D. 431 ; of which, were there no other proof, 
the testimony of Prosper forms sufficient evidence, for in his 
ChronicJe of that year, he says that Palladius was sent to the 
Scots, (the I; ish,) belitving in Christ." — Lanigan's Hhtory oj 
^^reland, vol. I. p. 9. 

" St. Irenaens, Bishop of Lyons, in the second century, 'at- 
firms, that the apostles propagated Christianity as far ait the 
^Jirlil of the sun, and particularly specifies Iberia.^' — Auliqiift 
rian Researches. 

■" Looghaire was then king of Ireland. The apostle visifeo 
'lis court at Tava, produced his credentials from the Pope, and 
defended his doctrine with such forcible arguments, that num- 
bers were converted, and the Queen herself was of the number. 
St. Patrick died in the year 493, in the 121st year of his age, 
ofter governing the Irish church, with unexampled piety and 
moderaiion, for sixty one years. He was interred in the abbey 
of DownpatricU, which was founded by himself. In his toml: 
•vere afterwards placed the bodies of St. Bridget and St. C*? 
\iy>y'h?..—'0' Hallorah's History of Ireland, 



:i-2 INTRODUCTION. 

Ireland) advances strong and acute arguments ir:- 
support of the supposition, that Ossian's autograp"h 
manuscript of his poems was consumed with the' 
other books. 

It would be contrary to my purpose to expatiate 
on the long and wasting wars which took place be- 
'vvcenthe Irish and the Danes, prior to the accession 
of the illustrious Brian Boroihme to the throne of 
•Munster, in 965, as such a dissertation would swell 
tomes o{ histor3\ Brian was richly endowed with 
very mental and personal quality requisite in the 
N3rmation of the character of a magnanimous and 
;7atriotic King. Brave and accomplished, he seemed 
ro be destined by nature to wield a sceptre, and wear 
a crown. At an early period of his life, he became 
Captain of (he Dalgais,* and at the head of that gal- 

* None but the sons of gentlemen would be admitted in this 
'inliant legion. The dresses of the officers and soldiers were 
rich and gorgeous in the extreme. As it was considered the 
Jiighest honoiar to be a member of this invincible body of 
ifoops, the following qualifications were essential to an admis- 
sion to it, as it was constituted like Fingal's famous Irish Mili- 
tia : ' every candidate must have ia poetical genius, and be well 
^acquainted with Irish and classic literature. He was to stand 
at the distance of nine ridges of land, with only a stick and a 
<arget, and nine soldiers were to throw their javelins at him at 
once, from which he was to defend himself unhurt, or be reject- 
ed. He was to have r heart inaccessible to fear, and his cou- 
rage was to rise superior to the greatest danger. He was to 
have a strong arm, and to be able to hold his weapons steady, 
without shaking. He was to leap over a tree as high as his fore- 
head, and easily stoop under another that was as low as his 
nees ; and be so expert as to mount his war horse at fullrgof- 
:op.' — Warner's History of Irehrnd. 



LMRODUCTION. 2o 

laiit band of warriors, he performed maay feats of 
iieroisni, worthy of his chivalric character and royal 
descent.* la every reqontre he acquitted himself 
\vith capacity and courage. The higher his reputa- 

This faaious legion was first erahodied in the reign of Eadh- 
■la Aughthsach, who was a distinguished monarch in Ireland, 
;») the year of the. creation, 2993. He was a most wailik 
piiiice, and he caused shields and targets of pure silver to b,e 
fabricated, which, with gorgeous chariots, and fine horses, he 
bestowed on the bravest officers of the i5't^/{"at*. He iutrodu- 
ced swords of variegated blacies of shining brilliancy, and af-? 
■ier he had conquered aH bis enemies in the surrounding coun- 
aies, he entered his capital in a trioinphal chariov of fine sil- 
ver, adorned with arms of ditlerent colours, such as he foughl 
,vith. — O'Hallormi's Hislory of IrdanJ. 

* So extremely ancient has the institution of Chivalry been 
.'•mojrag us, that we scarce kno\y where to trace its origin. There 
were five equestrian orders in Ireland — the first was, Niagh- 
Nase, or Knights of the Golden Collar, and this order was pe- 
culiar to the blood royal, as without it no prince could presume 
10 become a candidate for the throne. Of the other orders of 
chivalry, the Cura'dhe na Craobh-rudh, seem to rank foremost 
in our history. The great Nyall, and his descendants, were of 
this order, and designated " the heioes of the Red Branch." 
The Clana-Be&gha,. or Muivster Knights, were a most intrepici 
order of men. They bor.a, on thei^ ensign the arms of Mun^. 
sler, i. e. * Saturn, a King enthroned in majesty.' The Leinster 
Knights were called Clana-Baoiigne, frosn Baoisgne, the ances- 
tor of the celebrated Fin^al. Their ensign bore " Jupiter, an 
iiarp, Sol, stringed Luna." TheKnighfs of Connaught, in early 
days, were of the Danaan race, and yielded not the palm, in 
point of courage and; discipline, to any heroes in Europe. Theit 
arms were, "Jupiter, a Cavalier completely armed." This in 
signia was impressed on the reverse of the coins of Roderick 
O'Connor, the last monarch of Ireland.— i^an-f.?, on the Irwi ., 



'M INrRODUCTlOI^. 

liou rose in arms, the more he became endeared le* 
ihft soldiers and people, who were dazzled by thfc 
sj»iei]dour of his exploits, and the nobleness of his 
sentiment. Considering his sphere of action, he 
might be almost ranked with Csesar or Napoleon. A 
king, a leader, a legislator, a philosopher, is a rare 
nnion of human greatness, but of such aggrandiz- 
iog grcatnesii, he was a striking and luminous instance. 
No.sooner bad he ascended the throncj than ho 
iook measures to avenge the death of his brother, 
Muhon, who had been betrayed by O'Donovan, chief 
of Kenry, in the county of Limerick, into the power 
of the Danes, who basely murdered him. Q-Dono- 
van was well aware that Brian had too much spirit 
and resolution to listen to any overtures of concilia- 
tion from the murderers of his royal brother. He, 
Uierefore, mustered all his forces, among whom were 
1500 Danes, in order to resist the impending danger. 
The King of Munsier, confident of success, at the 
head of his invincible Dalgais, attacked the combined 
army of Donovan with all the fury of revenge, over 
which he gained a com^plcte victory. In this battle, 
not only O'Donovan and his son, but several of the 
principal Danish officers fell by the sword and spear. 
It was in this sanguinary engagement, Prince Mor- 
rough^ the eldest son of Brian, by his first Queen 
More, daughter of the King of Connaught, made his 
.^irst appearance on the theatre of war, and who, 
though then but 14 years of age, had the daring cou" 
lago of engaging hand to hand with Maolmuadhy* 

*-This^KiEig sanctioneil O'Donovan's treachery to Mahon^ 



ixNTRODUCTlON. 

the King of North Munster,) whom he slew after a 
iTullant contest. This victory was not less important 
than glorious to Brian, for he avenged by it the mur- 
der of his brother, and secured to himself the crown 
of the two Munsters. After having subdued the 
Danes, and restored peace to his kingdoms, his next 
solicitude was to enact wise and just laws for the go- 
vernment of his people. The Tribunals of justice 
were filled with wise and discreet judges, so that the 
laws were equally and impartially administered. He 
caused the ruined abbeys and churches to be repaired. 
and colleges and academies to be erected and endow- 
ed, for the instruction of the youth of his kingdom ; in 
fine, prosperity, benificence, and education, were the 
bright emanations that flowed from his liberal and 
enlightened policy. In obedience to his orders, 
houses of hospitality were opened for the -entertain- 
ment of strangers, and the lands originally appi^o- 
priated to them restored,* If we can credit Mr. Cur- 

* By the Druidicai and Brehon laws, lands in every part of 
kinedom were allotted for the support of hospitality, The 
Siatachs, or keepers of the hospitable houses, were the third 
order in the state. Each of these was obliged fo have 120 herds 
vf cattle. He was to have four roads leading to his house; a 
hog, beef, and mutton, were always to be ready for the travel- 
ler and stranger. In the present age of Pyrrhonism, all these 
facts might be well doubted^ had we not modern evidences to 
support and corroborate them ; for Sir John Davis, Attorney- 
General, in the reign of James I. in his account of the " bles^- 
td reforms,'' made in the lands of the Irish, in the counties of 
Monaghan, Cavan, Fermanagh, and Louth, in those precious 
days, by the inquisition then taken, it appeared that the counfj^- 
of Monaghan, alone, contained 100 Batle-beataths, to the sup- 
port of which w«re allotted, by Mac Mahon, lord of the soik 
•96,000 acres of l&nd.^O'Halloran. 



^20 lNTR0bUCTI05. 

tin, the biographer of Brian, the number of thes^ 
houses exceeded eighteen hundred in the two Mun- 
sters. Besides the improvemeRts he made for tlie 
benefit of his subjects, in the judicial institution of 
the country, and the impulse which his munificence 
gave the arts and sciences, he supported the gran- 
deur of the royal dignity in a magnificent style. The 
palace of his ancestors ho enlarged and beautified 
with all the embellishment and decoration that archi- 
tecture, painting and sculpture, could bestow, in or- 
der that it might afford suitable accommodation for 
his own residence, as well as for the foreign Princes 
and Ambassadors visiting his court. In this manner 
did Brian distinguish the grandeur and glory of his 
administration, by making his people participate in 
the blessings and benefits of peace and prosperity, 

Brian having reduced several of the provinciiil 
kings to subjection, and imposed contributions upon 
them, his revenues were innnense. 

About this time, the Danes despairing of the possi- 
bility of making a predatory incursion into any of 
Brian's territories, invaded Meath with a powerful 
army, committing the most cruel and licentious ex- 
cesses in their progress, plundering and setting fire to 
churches and monasteries, violating females, and car- 
rying devastation, dismay, and terror, through the 
whole country. JMalachy, King of Meath, filled with 
indignation, lost no time in levying an army to expel 
the invaders, who were rapidly advancing to the pa- 
lace of Tara, where they expected to enrich them- 
selves with great spoils. 

INIalachy, concentrating his army in an advantage- 
ous position, near Tara, waited the coming of ihb 



INTRODUCTION. 2, 

enemy. The moment ihey appeared, the Irish army, 
fired with revenge, charged them with irresistihle fury 
and impetuosity, letting loose carnage and havoc 
among the Danes, who began to retreat in the utmost 
confusion, after leaving 5,000 slain on the field of 
battle, among whom were Regnald, their General, 
and most of their principal officers. 

After this glorious victory, Mallachy, forming a 
junction with Dunochad O'Nyall, King of Ulster, 
ravaged and laid waste the district of Fingal, and 
marching with the utmost celerity on Dublin, he laid 
siege to that city, which he carried by assault, after u 
desperate conflict, releasing all the Irish captives, 
among whom were Donihnal, King of Leinster, and 
O'Neill, Prince of Tyrone. This blow prostrated 
the ambition of the Danes in the dust, and their 
affairs being irretrievably ruined, they readily sub- 
mitted to whatever conditions the Monarch of Ire- 
jnnd thought proper to impose. While the King of 
Leinster was achieving these triumphs, Brian was not 
slumbering under the laurels of his fame, for in the 
midst of peace, he was preparing for war ; his army 
was daily augmenting, and a considerable nav^' was. 
set afloat in his ports. 

After the capture of Dublin Malachy returned \(>- 
his palace, so elated with his brilliant successes, that 
he began to estimate himself far superior to Brian, oii 
whom he looked with the jealous eye of a rival. In 
order to make the King of Munster feel the power of 
his resentment, he lost no time in organizing a power- 
ful confederacy of the provincial Kings against him. 
AnjoDg the Princes who joined in this coalition wer«? 



*2-$. mXRODDCTIOr^. 

O'Phelaiijkiiig of Deasles, the Prince of Ossory, and 
two Danish Chiefs. Brian seeing the storm of inter- 
nal commotion ready to burst upon his head, lost no 
time in opposing its rage. He quickly entered the 
field, and on l>is approacii, the King of the Deasies, 
who commanded the allies, dreading the genius and 
bravery of his gallant adversary, sought safety in a- 
precipitate retreat towards Watcrford : thither Brian 
followed him by forced marches, and speedily brought 
him to actioQ near that city. 

The Dalgais ever foremost in tire battle, charged 
the allied army with such heroic valour as to break 
their ranks and throw them into the greatest confu- 
sion. Finding themselves defeated at all points, thev 
betook themselves to flight in the utmost trepidation ; 
the victorious Dalgais closely pursued them, and en- 
tered Waterford pellmel}" with the vanquished fugi- 
tives. The allied Princes seeing that all further re- 
sistance was useless, implored Brian to grant them 
peace on any terras he might think proper to pre- 
scribe. The monarch never refusing the olive branchy 
received the submission and hostages of the King of 
Leinster^ the Prince of O^sory, the King of Leath, 
Mogha, and other chiefs of the cenfedaracy, together 
with their respective tributes. Brian after these 
events marched into Meath to receive the homage 
and subsidies of the King of that country ; he thence, 
proceeded to Connaught, where Maurice O'Connor, 
after suffering a defeat at Athlone, was obliged to pay 
a heavy contribution, and swear fealty, to the Mamo-, 
nian monarch. The valour, magnanimity, and patri- 
?{hm of Brian were the theme of general. praise : aijft 



IISTRaDUeTlON. 29 

Ms legislative wisdom and consummate talents, whcr 
contrasted U'ith the effeminate passion and tempori- 
sing spirit of Malachy, (^wbo became enerved by 
luxury and women,) pointed him out as eminently 
qualified to preside at the head of the nation. His 
splendid deserts and sterling virtues attracted general 
admiration, and gave a preponderating weight to his 
character, in the scale of popular opinion. In a con- 
vention of chiefs of Munsler, Connaught, and Ulster, 
it was decided that, as Malachy had given himself up 
to a life of pleasure and ease that tarnished the repu- 
tation which he gained at the battle of Tara, cancelled 
his claim to Irish gratitude ; and having forgotten llie 
dangers which menaced his country, that Brian should 
be raised to the throne of Ireland. Malachy heard 
of these proceedings with surprise and indignation, 
and on being made acquainted with the resolution of 
the States, he declared that he would only give up 
the sovereignty with his life. During this interval 
Brian, at the head of his gallant MaiPiCnians, was 
continually chasing and harassing the enemies ef his 
country from one end of the Island to the other, and 
depriving the Danes of all their strong holds, amorrg 
which was Dublin, their chief fortress. Malachy's 
waning fortunes, hastening to a crisis, he came to a 
resolution of defending his right to the last extremity. 
The Princes and Chiefs of the nation having met 
in Congress, determine^ to send ambassadors to 
Malachy, to request that he would abdicate the thronq 
eivilly, otherwise that measures would be resorted to 
for the purpose of enforcing a co«ipliance with the 

unanimous wishes of the na'rion. Though Malachv 

3#, 



30 " INTRODUCTIONS 

was addicted to indolence and pleasure, yet the iin^ 
port of this message roused him from his apathy, and 
kindled again that warlike spirit which beamed so 
brilliantly at the battle of Tara, and the capture oi 
Dublin. Like a Phoenix rising with renewed vigom- 
from the ashes of his inglorious lethargy, he made th^ 
necessary preparations for maintaining the inviolabi- 
lity of his crown. At this juncture of his affairs, ht 
despatched messengers to all the Princes of the king- 
dom, claiming,as King of Ireland, their allegiance and 
support. Notwithstanding the urgency of this message. 
and the imminent difficulties in which the King wa^ 
involved, the Kings of Ulster and Connaught refused 
the required succours. The great O'Neill desired ' 
liie ambassadors to tell the King of Leinster, " that 
when the royal palace of Tara was possessed by li?s 
illustrious ancestors of the Heresionian monarchs, 
that tliey knew how to defend it against all hostile at- 
tempts; and if Malachy was unable to keep posscssioii 
of it, he had better deliver it up to the valiant King 
of Munster, who like a. patriot Prince had reduced 
the common enemy, restored the liberty of the suhjecf^^ 
and' employed his time arid abilitiss for the public 
good. I cannot, therefore, added O'Neill, oppose 
the MaraoRFans, especially the chivalrous Dalgais\. 
whose virtues I respect, and whose friendship I de- 
sire." The defection of several Princes from the 
eau^e of P»Ialachy, and the refusal of others to co-ope- 
rate with him in the war against Brian, struck alarm 
and dismay into the fettered heart of the deserted King. 
In this strait of the extremity of his fortune, and con- 
'vijxce'^ ft ^ere vaia^to resort to force of arms, be wa?r . 



l?sTRODirCTION. ST 

ad'vised that the only alternative that remained for 
his adoption, was to repair to th©-camp of Tara, where 
Brian was with a great army, and make his submis- 
sion to the King of Munster. In accordance with 
this resolution, he went to the camp of Brian, where 
he was received with all the honour and respect due 
to his high rank. Here he made a formal surrender af 
the crown and regtilia of Ireland to Brian, at the same 
time paying him tribute and homage as his vassal. 
The generous soul of the monarch was touched witli 
compassion for the misfortunes of Malachy, and ia 
order to render them as light as possible, he assigned' 
him the kingdom of Meath, and on his departure ire 
made him and his retinue many valuable presents, 
Brian then made his triumphal entry into Tara, accom- 
panied by all thOjPrinces in- the Island, who came to 
offer their submission to him, s« well as by all tlH3 - 
Nobles and Bishops, that attended to give eclat and 
pomp to the ceremony of his coronation. Seated on 
the throne of Heremon, he was solemnly annoiuted, 
and crowned by the Archbishop of Cashel ; after 
which it was exultingly announced to the assembla>^ 
multitude, by the heralds, " That the renowned King 
Brian, the son of Cineidey the son of Lorcan, the son 
of Kennedy^ and so on to Milesius, was sole Mo- 
narch OF ALL Irland,^' which was received by n. 
loud and simultaneous burst of acclamation by the 
people, and confirmed by their giving what is called 
the '^' royal tcar-shont of applause y* 

* In 1491 Poynirtg's Law was passed in a parliament field in 
Drogheda, and that legislative assembly, also, then abolishet^ 
ihft use of the hish war cry, which the ancient Iiish alna^C" 



32 introduction: 

The country was now enjoying the blessings of 
profound peace, and the expanded intellect of tlic 

shouted on commencing a battle. The exclamativjn aboo ! was 
analogous to the Hebrew word Aboi : thus the war cry of the 
Kildare family was derived from the castlfc of Crom, in the 
county of Limerick. O'Neill's cry was Lamk drarg aboo .' 
signifying Huzza for the red hand ! O^Brians cry was Lamh 
laider aboo! Huzza Jar the strong ha\\' The Earl of Des- 
mond's cry was Skan ait aboo ! Huzza for the old place ! The 
Earl of Clanrickard's (Burke's) cry was Gael rudh ahoo '. 
Husea for the red stranger, (or Englishman.) Fitzpatrick's 
cry was Gaer laider aboo ■' i.e. the sharp and strong for ever .' 
O'Carroll's(a) cry was,. Skowet aboo .' The Knight of Kerry's 
cry was, Farri-buidhe aboo ! Huzza for the yellow troop ! 
Ware says, the word ahoo signifies a curse. The word is still 
used in the south of Ireland as an interjection of contempt or 
defiance, which I believe was the original intention of the ex- 
pression, and used to excite dread and intimidation in the ene> 
my. Crom a boo, the cry of the Geraldines, seems to convey 
something of a more powerfully overawing nature in the ex- 
pression, than any other of the ancient Irish war shouts. — Ftrf* 
lltmarks on Irish Literature and Antiquities, by James S. 
Law, Esq. Hibernian Magazine, 1822. 

(rt) The sept of the O'Carroll's make a prominent figure iri 
Irish history : they are, according to our anriquarians, descend 
cd from Kean, the third son of Olioll Olum, King of Munster, 
Tiege, the son of this Kean, was a distinguished warrior, who, 
by killing in battle his three rivals, procured for Cornaac Mac 
Art the monarchy of Ireland. Cormac rewarded hira with a 
grant of land in Connaught, and created him Prince of Uriel, 
in the county of Louth, and Lord of Ely. The family were 
deprived of all their estates by Cromwell. Charles O'CarrolI 
was in great favour with^ James II. who, to compensate him for 
the loss of his paternal estates, made him a grant of a large 
tract of land in the state of Maryland, in the United States of 
America, which is still in the possession of his grandson, the 
s'eR«rable Charles O'CarroU, of Carrollston, who is now in ths 



mTRODUCliON, 3:J 

tnoaarch grasped every means that could prolong 
their continuance. To counteract the designs of the 
Danes, and to frustrate any future attempt which they 
might make to disturb the national tranquillity, he 
kept a standing army in the camps, and set about 
building three ships of war of an enormous size, with 
which he intended to invade Scotland. During this 
naval preparation he sent to Maol-Moniha, King oT 
Leinster, whose sister Brian had lately married, re- 
questing as a favour, that three af the finest and lof- 
tiest masts in his kingdom, might be forwarded for 
the royal navy. The King of Leinster promptly 
complied with the solicitation, and in order to en- 
hance the presents, he resolved to accompany the 
conveyance of the masts to the court of his brother- 
in-law. On coming near Kincora the King dressed 
himself in his royal robes, the most magnificent oi^ 
which was a rich silk mantle, gorgeously embroidered 
with gold, and atudded with diamonds of the purest 
water. This spangled mantle was one of the gifts 
with which Brian presented him as a token of re- 
gard and friendship. By some accident the golden 
clasp which fastened the cape of the mantle at the 
neck, flew off and was lost. When the cordial 
greetings of congratulation and welcome were re- 
ciprocated in the chamber of state, the King of 
Leinster retired to the apartment of his sister, the 
Queen, and begged that she might affix another clasp 
to the mantle, as he wished to wear it at the audience 

Plst year of his ag^e. He is g^randfather to her Excellency, 
Marianne, the present Marchioness of Wellesley, and of Lady 
Jfarvey.— See Irish Ant. Rcsearche/i, yo\. J, \i. 99. 



S4 INTRODUCTION. 

which her husband was to give that day to Princes 
and ambassadors. 

The Queen, being a woman of true Irish spirit, 
and lofty pride, tauntingly replied to her brother, 
'" It is not for the daughter of the Heremonian Mon- 
archs, on whose majesty centuries of virtue and bra- 
very iiave shed their lustre, to array and deck out in 
llic servile livery of subjeclion, the pusillanimous re- 
presentative of her illustious ancestors, who would 
sooner die than bend the knee of homage at the foot- 
stool of a conquerer, or offer, like you, the incense ot' 
flattery with a craven and sycophantic group of tributa- 
ry kings. The royal blood of Melesiusj-vvhich warmed 
with the fire'of enthusiastic courage the bounding hearts 
uf a legion of heroic kings, has become frozen, degene- 
rated, and torpid in your veins !" The king appeared 
like a man struck by a thunderbolt, at this satirical 
.rebuke from his sister. Though justly maddened with 
rnge and resentment, at her ungracious treatment, he 
yet suppressed his anger, and refrained, at that time, 
fiom making a recriminatory reply. But the next 
day, as he was looking upon a game at chess, in 
whicij Morrogh and one of his cousins were engaged, 
he unfairly, as a stander by, advised a move which 
caused the prince to lose the game. Morrogh, pro- 
voked at the intrusive suggestion of the King of Lein- 
ster, sarcastically remarked " that if his Majesty had 
<riven a$ good advice at the battle of GUan-mamha,. 
the Danes tooidd not have suffered so signal a defeat. .'^" 
The King, irritated by the keenness of the retort, 
quickly replied in the kindled spirit of resentraeni, 
' That if the Danes had been defeated by his advice^. 



KNTRODtJCXrON. j. 

T was resolved soon to put them in a way to retrieve 
tlidr loss^ and take their full revenge of him, and the 
King his father.''^ Burning with indignation at the 
mdignities aimed at him by the Queen and son of 
Brianj he came to the determination of having re- 
venge. As soon as he arrived at his own palace, he 
summoned all his chiefs, and ^elated to them, in the 
most aggravating manner, the ignominious insults 
which were offered him at Brian's court. They, led 
away by his pathetic appeal to their sympathies, 
iinanimously resolved on joining the Danes, and on 
attacking the King of Ireland in his very palace, be- 
fore he could place himself in a posture of defence. 

Maolmordha soon found himself at the head of a 
large army, chiefly composed of Danes, who were 
overjoyed at the prospect of once more gaining pos- 
session in ^^ a land fiowing with milk and honey. ''^ 
The King of Leinster, perceiving his ranks daily en- 
crease, sent forth heralds to declare war against 
Brian, and to challenge him to a battle in the vicinity 
of Dublin. The declaration of war was returned by 
llic King of Ireland against the King of Leinster, 
and ever}'^ measure put in practice that could contri- 
bute to the subversion of the formidable combination, 
which that King organized against the welfare and 
liberties of Ireland. 

The heroic Dalgais were soon joined by the troops 
of Munster and Connaught, with their several prin- 
ces at their head. In the beginning of April, 1014, 
Brian, with a well appointed and highly disciplined 
army, rapidly marched to Kilmamham, near Dublin, 
where he encamped. Though the veteran Monarch 



;a INlllODUCTiON. 

was then in the eighty-eighth year of his age, yet he 
retained all the vigour and spirit cf a warrior ; and 
his ardent patriotism gave a stimulating impulse to his 
^nental faculties, and kindled in his heart the aninia- 
ling courage and fire of youth. 

Both armies continued some days, in a state of in- 
iictive suspense, quite igear each other ; but at length 
Urian made a movement to Clontarf, in order to in- 
duce the Danes to march out of Dublin, and give him 
battle. This disposition had the desired effect, as the 
Danes, and their Swedish auxiliaries, with their chiefs 
.«t their head, soon began to approach Brian's camp, 
in conjunction with the Leinster troops, under the 
command of the King of Leinster. Brian drew up 
his army in order of battle, with his accustomed skill 
and precision. The right wing of the Irish army was 
composed of the royal guards, the chief nobility of 
Munster and Connaught, the invincible tribe of Dal- 
gais, and all the princes of Brian's blood, as well as 
the King of Meath, and his forces, were ranked in 
this formidable division, under the orders of Prince 
Morrogh, and the Prince of Ulster. The left wing 
was placed under the command of Cathal O'Con- 
no'r, King of Connaught. The troops of South 
Munster, under their different chiefs, wirh those of 
the Deasies, formed the central phalanx, over which 
CiAN, the son of Malmuadh was appointed general. 

The army thus drawn up, in battle array, presented 
a most magnificent appearance; their shining armour, 
glittering spears, and waving banners, displayed a 
grand and imposing spectacle. Prior to the fatal sig- 
p.al being given, the,^ood.,0-ld Kins; rode through the 



IKTRODUCTIO?.'. i : 

ranks, with a crucifix in one hand, and his drawn 
sword in the other. As he passed through the differ- 
ent troops, he harrangued them with great force of 
eloquence. He exhorted them to do their duty as 
•oldiers and Christians, in the sacred cause of their 
ountry and rehgion. He reminded the Dalgais of 
the many triumphs which their predecessors gained 
under the renowned Fingal,* as well as of their glo- 

* Fingal, the son of Cumhal, the renowned 'General of the Fin- 
jiian hosts.' His mother was Murin, daughter of Thaddy, who was 
called the ' ichile vwnarch' of Ireland. He married the daughle'- 
of the celebrated Cormac McArt, the Law giver, who ascendc;? 
tlie throne of Ireland in the year 254. 

There is no monarch in Irish history, except Brian, mo'.e cele- 
•)rated for his literary attainments, political wisdom, and sage max- 
ims of jurisprudence, than Cormac. As a poet he ranked high, sf> 
much so, that he obtained the estimation of a prophet. Fingal, 
his son-in-law, commanded his armies, and was the confidential as- 
sociate of all his stadies,-councils, and achievements. Fingal w-a^^ 
not more valiant than he was accomplished, as his mind was richly 
endowed with every liberal art and science prevailing in the age in 
Avjiich he lived. He eminently distinguished himself when he as- 
??isted the Scotch to expel the Roiiian legions from Caledonia. The 
fame of his heroic military exploits, at the liead of the Dalgais, or 
' Idsh militia,^ has afforded a wide scope for the exercise of talent, 
and the panegyric of poetry. By the daughter of Cormac, he hafl 
two sons, the famous Ossi.\n and Fergus, who have acquired sucli 
immortal renown in poetry and arms. Carbary was the eldestson 
of Cormac, who, on mounting the throne, thought proper to insulf. 
Ossian, his nephew, at his coronation feast, which so irritated the 
poet-hero, that he vowed to be revenged of his uncle. The quai 
vcl raised a barrier of implacable resentment, which proved insu- 
perable to recombination. Ossian appealed to the Dalgais, and re 
minded tliem of the triumphs which they gained under his fatbex 
and grandfather, Cumhal, who fell at the battle of Lugha, in t!i?, 
year 220, by the hand of Girtl Mac Mornie, the chasipion'of Con-. 
4 " * ' 



;^8 LNrRODUCTION. 

rious feats of heroism in the thirty conflicts, in which 
they had combatted under his own command. ^' Your 
country/' continued the venerable Monarch, " repo- 
ses all her hopes on your valour ; she is confident of 
3'our zeal and courage, and that you will shield her 
from the miseries with which the cold-blooded a^d 
perfidious Danes v/ould devastate her bosom. You 
know that the}^ are strangers to religion and huma- 
nity, they arc therefore big with the hope of vio- 
lating the fairest daughters of the laud, and of en- 
riching themselves with the spoils of sacrilege and 
plunder ; for they have impiously fixed on the very 
day on which the Redeemer of the world was cruci- 
fied, to destroy his votaries and sacred temples; but 
that God, whose cause you are to fight this day, will 
be present with you, and deliver his enemies into yo ur 
hands." The whole army received this address witii 
shouts of eiithusiastic exclamation. Brian appeared 
greatly affected, and was proceeding to take his sta- 
tion in the centre of the army, when all the Chiel'^ 
interposed, and implored him, on account of his age 
and infirmity, to retire to his tent, from the field of 
battle, and leave the chief command to ihe heroic 
Morrogh. He reluctantly yielded to their entreaties. 

naught. The moment they became acquainted with Ossian's re- j 
quest of assistance, they placed themselves under his orders, andn 
attacked the troops of Carbary, at Gabrn, in Mealh. The battle 
was so fierce, that the monarch, and his ally, the lung of Con-: 
nauo-ht, were mortally wounded on one side, and Oscar, the son of 
Ossian, and the king of Munster, (the son-in-law of Fingal,) were, 
killed in the engagement.— Vide Exile of Eriti^s Letters on tke Os- 
sianic Controversy, in the Nitional Advocate, and Truth Tf.i' 
7.ER, March, 1826. 



INTRODUCTION 3iX 

So sooner had the pious King withdrawn, than the 
Irish army, with a united voice, called ontlieir chiefs 
U) lead them on in the path of glory. The Dalgais 
raised the '^sun-beam standard of Flngal,^^'^ bearing 
rlie inscription Victory or Death! and rushed, willi 
iheir wonted firmness and intrepidity to the charge. 



* The old Irish poets clenominaled the standard of Fingal, ' Th'; 
sun-burst.^ In an Ossianic manuscript, the followuig sentence oc- 
>'urs: " IVe raised the Sun-Burst to the staff,'' which means liU-- 
rally, brilliancy of siai. 

-' Fingal made tlie Scotch tributary long before the reign oi 
Niall. He invaded Caledonia in the year 255, where he planted a 
i^olony as an establishment for Carbry Riada, his cousin-German 
Tliis colony was often protected from the power of the Romans by 
the Irish militia, under the command of Fingal and Ossian, occa- 
sionally stationed in the circumjacent country ; hence the claim of 
the Scots to Ossian. 

"It is remarkable, that the genius of the Ossianic style still 
prevails over the wild effusions of the modern and unlettered bards 
of Ireland; while even the remotest of Scottish minstrelsy res- 
pires nothing of that soul which breathes in " the voice of Cona," 
and the metrical flippancy which betrays its existence, seems nei- 
ther to rival, nor cope with, that touching sublimity of measure, 
through whose impressive medium the genjus of Ossian effuses its 
inspiration. In Ireland, it has been, and is still, the measure in 
which the sons of song breathe " their wood notes wild." — Vide 
Lady Morgaii's Wild Irish Gii-l. 

Fingal fell in an engagement at Ralhbree, on tlte banks of the 
Boyne, A. D. 294 ; from whence the name Rathbree was change<l 
into that of Killeen, or ' Cill-Fhin,' the tomb of Yiii.—iValker's 
History of Irish Bards. 

Killeen, in the county of Meath, is the beautiful and romantic 
residence of the Earl of Fingall, to -whose noble family it has be- 
longed since the reign of Richard I. — See Jinlhologia Hihernlca. 
q^d ArchddVs Peerage . 



iO IJNTRODUCTION. 

tnaking death and destruction pave their pathway 
with the bodies of the slain : all the other Chiels. 
except the base and ignoble Malachy, (who with the 
ibrces of Meath wheeled off at the commencement- 
of the conflict,) evinced a valiant courage and bravery 
worthy of their cause and fame. The onset was ter^ 
ribly fierce and obstinate. The Danes, it must be 
admitted, fought with a resolute courage that required 
all the genius and valour of the Irish generals to op- 
])osc and contravene. Every man stood immoveabio 
in his rank, and every foot of ground was contested. 
When Morrough from his post espied the treaclierous 
defection of Malachy, he, with great presence of 
mind, cried out to his brave Dalgais, " that this was 
the fortunate moment to cover themselves with im- 
mortal glory, as they, alone-, would have the unrival- 
led honour of cutting off that formidable body of the 
«Miem3\" He then snatched the standard of Fingal, 
and exclaimed ^^ Before the lapse of one hour, this 
must loavc either over the tents of the Danish camp^ 
or over my dead body P^ The other Chiefs, catching 
the fire of emulation from his heroism, furiously pre- 
cipitated themselves on the foe ; nothing could stand 
the shock of this charge, which spread consternatioa 
and havoc through the enemy's legions. Morrogh, 
and the King of Connaught, were pre-eminent, even 
among the other gallant Chiefs, for the progidies of 
valour which they performed. The Danes, seeing 
their numbers thinned by the unconquerable bravery 
of the Irish, and not daring to rally their discomfitted 
'r'^on?, looked only for safety in a disastrous flight. 



INTRODUCTIOxX. 4} 

leaving ail their camp equipage, &c. in the hands of 
the victors. 

Thus I have summed up, in a brief compendium, 
some of the principal events in Brian's eventful reign, 
I will now submit to the attention of the reader Mr. 
M'Carran's poetical description of the battle of 
Olontarf 



BATTLE OF CLONTARF 



THIS famous battle was fought on the 23d of Apriiy^ 
1014. The Irish army consisted of thirty thousand, 
men, commanded by Brian Boirumhi, Monarch of, 
Ireland, who was then in the 88th year of his age. 
At the commencement of the action, he was persuaded 
by his officers to retire and give up the command to 
his son Murrogh, 

The Danes and their allies were nearly twice the 
number, and were commanded by Maolmordha, King 
of Leinster, who fought against his country that day, 
to revenge an insult he had received at the Court of, 
Urian. The battle began at 8 o'clock in the morning 
and lasted till sunset. 

Malachie, prince of Meath, who with the Methians. 
under his command, retired from the field at the com- 
mencement of the engagement, gives the following , 
account of the battle : — 

'^ I retired (says he) with the troops under my com- 
mand, to an eminence separated from the combatants 
by a field and a ditch only. The appearance of the 
men, the glittering of their swords, spears, and baitle- 
axes, and. the brightness of their armour, exhibited at 
once a glorious andan awful sight. The engagement 
soon commenced^ and in less than half an hour it was 
impossible to distinguish the combatants from each 
other ; even a father or a brother could not be known 



14 BATTLE OF CLONTARF. 

except by his voice. So closely were they engaged, 
and so covered with blood, which scattered on every 
side by the wind, which was then sharp and high, 
separated as we were from them, the spears, swords, 
and battle-axes of our men were so entangled by the 
qnantity of blood and clotted hair flying from the field 
of battle, that with difliculty and constant labour only, 
were they able to disengage them and keep their ranks, 
nor was it for some time after that their arms recover- 
ed their former lustre. The scenes of carnage that 
spread far and wide, were terrible beyond description, 
so much so that the very sight of them to us specta- 
tors, appeared infinitely more distressing and terrify- 
ing than they could possibly be to the parties engaged. 
From sun-rising to the evening did the battle conti- 
nue with such unremitting slaughter, that the return- 
ing tide was stained red with their blood." 

Seven thousand of the Irish fell in this battlo, and 
fourteen thousand of the Danes. From the vast num- 
ber of chiefs that fell, we may form some idea of the 
carnage on both sides. On the side of the Irish were 
slain the immortal Brian, his son and General, Mur- 
rogh, with two of his brothers, and his son Tirlogh. 
who, though but fifteen years of age, performed pro- 
digies of valour. In short, few of the chiefs of either 
side escaped. This battle, entirely broke the powfei 
of the Danes in this country, and the survivors took 
an eternal farewell of Erin, after having had a footing 
m it upwards of 200 years. — (O^Hallorari's Historu 
of Ireland.) 



BATTLE OF CLONTARI 

A POEM. 



HAIL ! soul-inspiring muse, the bondman's frieiici. 
To sing old Ecin's praise, thy influence lend ; 
One of her sons invokes thy sacred aid, 
O grant his boon, thou sweetly soothing maid I 
Tho' poor, unlettered— still he owns thy sway. 
Thy converse oft has sooth'd his weary way. 
Old Erin, Once thy hospitable seat. 
The land of Bards and warriors good and great : 
But now, alas ! her glory is no more, 
Her ancient race are exiPd from her shore, 
In foreign climes that valour they must shew 
V^'ith which their fathers oft repelPd the foe ; 
Or those who linger on her rauch4ov'd soil, 
A scanty pittance gain with care and toil ; 
The fields their fathers own'd they^-e doom to till; 
And bow obsequious to a master's will. 
The offspring of her chiefs, to labour bred. 
With scarce a roof to screen their wretched head 
From summer's heat or winter's pinching cold, 
Vnd doom'd to beg for bread when weak and old ' 
Who can this picture view with tearless eye — 
My bursting bosom heaves the bitter sigh. 



4U BATTLE OP CLONTARF. 

ilcr ancient laws, her warriors — all are goiiej 

Ilcr sens are scattered and her glory done ; 

Even Brian's oftspring — Brian, great and good; 

Who for her freedom spilPd his precious blood. 

Do toil for bread upon the hallowed land 

Where their great father held supreme command. 

Sach is the fate of Erin's gen'rous race! 

In battle lions — lambs in time of peace ; 

Vvlicn trumpets blew the fields of death they press'd 

But conquered foes they cherished and caressM; 

Glory thei/ aim, their chief delight was war, 

When honor callM no dangers could them scare 

If bold invaders landed on their coast, 

They found old Erin's sons a hardy host. 

With liearts resolv'd their country to defend, 

Or in her cause their precious lives to end I 

Such, Erin ! were thy sous when Brian the Grea^ 

In Tara's lofty Halls did role in state, 

Surrounded by his chiefs — a hardy band, 

Lacii in himself an host to guard the land, - 

Such were thy sons, who to expel the Danes 

Their standards rais'd on Clontarfs sea-girth plains 

King Brian's years had numbered eighty-eight 

When to tiie field he raarch'd in mighty state 

And pitchM his tents before the Danish host, "'■■ 

Resolv'd to die or drive them from the coast. 

But, first a council calls, his chiefs obey. 

The regal tent they throng without delay ; 

Each plac'd in order on his lordly seat. 

The king advanc'd on high in robes of state. 

But now, my muse, thy aid I here invoke 

How to describe the chiefs and how they spoke 



BATTLE OF CLONTARF. 4/ 

riiree regal kings did wait on Brian's nod, 

lie, in the midst appeared their guardian god : 

Upon his right sat Ulster's potent king, 

He from green Uilin hardy troops did bring; 

The great O'lNeils he led, himself the chief, 

\t sight of whom the Danes were struck with grief. 

The Ultonian knights those northern robbers ff ar'd, 

And oft before had lied when they appeared ; 

For who with them in courage could outvie, 

They'd fight and conquer, or gloriously they'd die. 

The O'Donel's likewise, lords of Donegal,* 

Like trusty vassals, followed at his call ; 

The great O'Cahan's and a hundred more, 

Whose swords had oft been dy'd in hostile gore 

Beneath his banners rang'd in armour bright 

On Clontarfs plains, all eager for the fight ; 

No coward fears were lodged within their breast, 

For oft the field of war their feet had press'd. 

Old Connaught's king with all his warlike train. 

In polish'd steel encamp'd upon the plain ; 

To aid great Brian in firm array they stood, 

Their Chief, great Cathal, sprung from noble blood, 

Attended by O'Henie, famed afar 

For mighty deeds amongst the sons of war. 

The Host of Heaven these Danes have oft defied, 

This day they choose on which our Saviour died. 

"* "According- to Irish writers, the O'Donell family are descend- 
cd from Conal Golban, son of Niali, of the nine hostages, monarch 
of Ireland. The said Niall having granted the land now called 
the county of Donegal, to his son Conall, it was denominated af- 
'cr him Tvr-Conall." — Irish Antiq^iariaii Researches. 



48 BATTLE 0? CLONTARF, 

O'KclIy next, a prince of high renown, 
Who oft had caus'd the Danes to bite the ground 
O'Flaherty, M'Dermott, and numbers more, 
In arms did shine oft stained with Danish gore. 
Next Leinster's Chiefs led on a hardy band 
Kesolv'd to free old Erin's hallov/'d land ; 
Fiefc^ o'er the field they pour'd their might along. 
Their Bards in front the martial strains prolong. 
The Munster Chiefs with arms refulgent bright 
In order stood, all panting for the fight. 
Brian's gallant nephews, in number just fifteen, 
Their arms resplendent, scarfs of lovely green. 
Their massy falchions oft in strife were tried, 
And Danish blood the polished blades oft dy'd. 
Five warlike sons did follow their great sire, 
Breathing revenge, their eyes shot living fire, 
Beneath their tread this sea-girt isle was shook, 
T'he foe drew back with terror from their look. 
Such were the chiefs that Brian did surround, 
The monarch rose — the silence was profound ; 
He spoke — Ye warlike chiefs of Ulster lend an ear. 
Of Leinster, Munster, Connaught, pray draw near. 
As christian soldiers lead your troops lo-day, 
And to these Danish robbers don't give w^}"". 
Your injured country now requires your aid — 
In freedom's cause what Irishman's afraid ! 
Your brave ancestors groan'd beneath their 3^oko. 
By 3^ou, their sons, this chain will soon be broke, 
Religion calls^ be men, and quick obey, 
Nor sheath your swords till freedom gains the dav 
These sanguinary Danes let no man spar^. 
To lead vou on will be mv ojilv care. 



BATTLE OF CLOIN'TARF. -^ 

-1 o extirpate Milesius^ daring Hne,'^ 
Vnd inundate our isle with blood divine, 
l>ut God and freedom, in whose cause you fight. 
Will bless your arms and grant you heavenly might. 
Yesj freedom, heaven-born maid, will crown our toil. 
And our oppressors' blood enrich our soil. 
Ye Gods ! what Irishman would be so base 
As stoop to slavery and foul disgrace ? 
No ! — with our swords let's free old Erin's Isle. 
The cause is just, and God will on us smile ; 
Let each maintain his post, and firmly stand, 
And soon these haughty Danes shall quit our land 
The warrior sure is bless'd who bravely dies. 
And for his country falls a sacrifice ! 
Say then, brave Chiefs, shall we the war provoke. 
Or live inglorious 'neath the Danish yoke? 
He ceased : — a Chieftain rose, O'Connor named. 
For mighty deeds in warfare he was famed ; 
His glittering armour shone like new born day. 
His nodding crest did float like streamers gay ; 
My voice, he cried, great Monarch, is for war. 
Lead on our troops, the foe shall fly afar ; 
Our swords and spears with courage let us use. 
To fight for freedom, who would dare refuse? 
The coward who would from his colours fly, 
Shall, by this hand, ingloriously die. 
Too long in bondage vile we have remain'd- 
This day let Erin's freedom be regained ; 
Let each his post maintain, nor quit the ficiJ. 
Till Denmark's hosts to Erin's sons do yield. 
He ceased, and forth his trusty sword he drew, 
To marshal forth his troops the hero flow. 



>U BATTLE OF CLONTARF. 

The Prince of Ulster next, a Chieftain bold. 
Whose arms refulgent shone like polished gold ■. 
flis mein majestic — the Chiefs he thus addressed, 
While martial ardour warm'd his noble breast : — 
Most potent Monarch, and you Chiefs attend. 
Who here are met your country to defend 
From the incursions of the daring foe, 
AVhose barbarous deeds have left poor Erin low : 
'brothers in arms ! let us as one unite, 
And ne'er give back — for freedom fair we fight ; 
T.ci's pour our hosts on the embattled plain, 
And live all free, or in her cause be slain ; 
With Danish blood let's deluge our lov'd isle, 
And strew their bodies o'er our fertile soil ; 
A warrior's glory is to meet the foe — 
Let death or slaughter follow every blow. 
As for myself, I ne'er will quit the plain. 
Till freedom smiles, or in her cause tje slam.* 
He paused — the Chiefs, as if they were inspired, 
\li drew their swords, and from the tent retir'd 
To join their troops on the ensanguined fields, 
.\nd loud and long they struck their bossy shields. 
The househsld troops of Brian form'd the right, 
,\11 chosen men, and well inur'd to fight ; 
The tribe of Dalgais and princes of the blood. 
With shining arms, in columns closely stood. 

^ lie spoke prophetically, for he fell pierced with wounJs, aftc' 
liiiving avenged the death of Prince Murrogh, by killing bis cow- 
ardly assassin, the Danish chief Plait. Tlie gallant king of Ul- 
ster was the nephew of Brian, and his worthy and faithful com- 
panion in all his honours. He might truly and emphatically be 
'.(•uozBinated the worthy son of the hero of the nine hostages. 



-BATTLE OF CLOx\TAftF. '^ ' 

The Prince of Meath did this division join, 

His coward soul, incased in steel, did shine. 

Murrogh and Sitrick had the chief command 

Of the right wing— a daring, dreadful band. 

The Con naught troops upon the left were pUic'd, 

Commanded by great Cathal, in armour casM ; 

The field he trod like Mars, the god of war, 

His blood-red plumes aloft did Avave afar ; 

The living flame shot terror from his eye. 

His falchion gleam'd a meteor thro' the sky. 

The centre troops led on by Cian bold, 

Whose five-fold shield was orb'd with sold gold ; 

His shining spear did quiver in his grasp, 

A brazen helmet round his brows did clasp. 

Thus host on host they pourM along the field. 

Those armed with spears, these glittering swords di( 

wield ; 
With bossy shields of virgin gold so brigkt. 
Like stars falling on the dark robe of night. 
In close battalions the dusty field they tread, 
And each bold tribe their Chieftain at their head. 
So when the sun does dip the western main, 
And to their fold the flocks return again ; 
The sturdy bull does foremost quick advance, 
Before, behind, around his eyes do glance, 
And if a wolf or lion does appear. 
He beats his sides, and bellows forth his fear. 
So watch'd the chiefs the thick'ning field of war. 
No dastard fears their mighty souls could scare ; 
Mars and Bellona took their airy flight 
From rank to rank^ and kindled up the fight ; 



BATTLE 01-' CLOM'AKF.. 

<'he liills re-echoed back the clarion's note 
.Vnd high aloft the streamers gay did float ; 
A thousand Cards did in the front appear, 
The song of war did echo long and clear 
Each warrior drew his sword, a meteor briglit. 
And with fresh ardour burned for the fight ; 
Rank press'd on rank, each to sustain the shock. 
And shield touch'd shield, a moving brazen rock, . 
Beiiind whose orbs a wood of spears arise, 
Whose polish'd heads shot lightning thro' the skies f 
In order close the warriors firmly stand, 
Resolved to die, or free their native laud. 
Now in the front the Monarch does appear, 
In his right hand he shook a massive spear, 
A crucifix his left exposed to view, 
Thus arm'd, from rank to rank the Monarch flew. 
Behold, he cried, 'tis for your faith you fight, 
For freedom fair, and old Irene's right ; 
Your wives and daughters will repay your toil. 
You guard their honour on your native soil. 
Should Denmark conquer, to satiate their lust. 
Your tender wives they'd humble in the dust. 
As for myself, though silver'd o'er with age. 
You'll find me in the battle's hottest rage ; 
Our country calls, the mandate let's obey. 
May honour guide us through this dreadful dav 
This having said, he spurr'd his charger on, 
And in the front his arms refulgent shone ; 
His great example fir'd the warlike band. 
They gave a shout that echoed o'er the land. 
Come ! lead us on they cry, to meet the foe^. 
Tor Erin's cause let's strike the final blow. 



BATTLE OF CLONTARF. 53 

But fast they cry, good father, quit the field, 
Your son, great Murrogh, Tan assume your shield : 
Old Erin's weal your safety does require, 
Now quit the field, and to your tent retire. 
Not for myself, replies the Monarch great, 
From fields of war and carnage I retreat, 
Cut at your lov'd request I quit the field, 
And to my eldest son resign, my shield. 
The burnish'd seven-fold orb he then did place 
On ]\Iurrogh's arm, the eldest of his race ; 
Take this, my son, the ancient hero cried. 
In fields of strife its front has oft been tried ; 
No feeble arm its bossy studs can sway, 
Beneath its orb prone many warriors lay : 
May you, my son, in arms and virtue shine, 
And leave this shield untainted unto thine. 
The pious son upon his knees did fall, 
iMy king, my friend, my father, and my all, 
•When I this shield resign but with my life, 
May plagues pursue me thro' the fields of strife ; 
JBy me your every wish shall be obeyed, 
Great Brian's son of death is not afraid. 
Go then, my sire, and in your tent repose, 
Be mine the task to rout old Erin's foes. 
Thus having said, he raised the shield on high, 
The polish'd orb shot lightning thro' the sky ; 
The glittering belt across his shoulders hung, 
And with his spear the warboss loud he rung j 
His troops obey the sound, all firmly stood, 
Resolved in Erin's cause to spill their blood. 
Again, O ! Muse, thy mighty aid impart, 
Let every period shine with thy great art ; 



-^1 BATTLE OF eLOXTAKFV 

How Erin's foes advanced, I mean to sing. 
How spears extended, brazen armours ring. 
Vhd first, that renegade, Malmordlm named,* 
On Leinster's fertile fields for valour fam'd, 
Against his country with the Danes did join, 
A traitor to his faith, and blood divine ; 
The chief command he held o'er every Dane, 
His treacherous deeds do Erin's annals stain. 
But doom'd on ClontarPs plains to yield his breath,.. 
Too base a soul for such a glorious death. 
Denmark and Sweden hardy troops did send, 
And Norway's frozen coast did succour lend ; ' 

Britain and Normandy did plough the deep. 
In native blood our much-loved Isle to steep ; 
Full sixty thousand, cas'd in armour bright. 
On ClontarPs plains stood ready for the fight ; 
O'er these in chief did Leinster's prince command 
Resolv'd in mind to spoil his native land. 
Croder, the Dane, commanded on the right, 
Full well he knew to counter-march and fight ; 
His height gigantic, dreadful was his look, 
In either hand a massive spear he shook ; 
The solid earth did tremble as he trod, 
He frown'd defiance to both man and God ; 

*■ The Dalgais, actuated wiih feelings of inveterate revenge 
jgainst theKing of Leinster, for bis treasonable alliance will, 
ihe rutiiless enemies of Ireland, singled out the Leinster troops^/ 
aud charged them so furiouslv, that they fell like grass before. 
the inower's scythe. Though the King of Leinster opposed 
them with a fornnidable resistance, yet he could not withstand 
their overwhelming rage; for not only he, but all his Chiefs, 
and 300 of his best soldiers were sacrificed in ttus sanguinar^'- 



BATTLE OF CLONTARF, ^^'■ 

To drench old Erin's plains in native gore, 
The haughty infidel had oft-times swore. 
Upon the left bold Sitrick took his stand, 
The Danes of Erin bowM to his conamand ; 
Haughty, unjust, revengeful was the Dane, 
And many sons of Erin he had slain ; 
In brazen armour he did shine afar- 
Unjust he was in peace, but bold in war ; 
To crush old Erin now he took the field. 
And swore e'en Brian's race should to him yield. 
Such were the men old Erin did oppose, 
All tried in fight, and no inglorious foes. 
Their chief advanced upon the dusfy field, 
And raised aloft his seven-fold brazen shield. 
He spoke : — You Danes, Norwegians, allies, hear 
Who on this plain in brighest arms appear. 
Your trusty swords I know have oft been tried, 
And in the blood of foes have oft been dy'd ; 
This day I lead you on against a foe, 
That will return with interest every blow ; 
Let each his post maintain, and keep his ground. 
Willi Erin's shining spoils you will be crown'd ;. 
Each daring soldier well shall be repaid. 
Who in an Irish heart-does sheath his blade. 
And now the brazen trumpets from afar. 
Blew loud and long the dreadful notes of war :. 
The sons of Erin gather in their pride, 
.\nd pour along the fieki with martial stride. 
The Melhian prince now struck with sudden fear," 
With all his host retreated to the rear, 

* 
' This was the crisis which Malacby chose to revenge hi;it- 



0-b BATTLE 07 CLONTAR?'* 

A shame to manhood and to Erin's race 
Who thus would shun the battle with disgrace 
The son of Brian firmly did advance, 
And in his hand he shook his mighty lance, 
The Dalgais tribe he quickly thus addressed. 
While close around their chief the warriors press'd- 
Friends, fellow-seldiers ! Murrogh loudly cried. 
Whose swords have oft in Danish blood been dy'd. 
At length the glorious hour is at hand 
To drive the Danes from Erin's hallowed land — 
The Methians have withdrawn — be yours the fame 
To rout the foe, and gain a glorious name. 
They answered with a shout, their swords they drew. 
And through the field of death with ardour flew. 
High towering in front, like Mars of old. 
Great Murrogh stood, encased in shining goldy^ 
His path was dreadful o'er the bloody plain, 
He ramparts rais'd of dying and of slain, 
His battle-axe and sword streaming with gore, 
High in the front his seven-fold shield he bore. 
Behind his s^vord grim death, with ghastly look, 
Distaincd with blood, his keen edg'd scythe oft shook : 
Rank press'd on rank, their spears a moving wood, 
Their burnish'd armour stain'd with human blood : 
Their darts, a brazen shower, obscured the sun. 
And in the sliade their deadly course they run ; 
The groans of dying men, and victor's cries, 
With trumpets' dreadful blast did rend the skies, 

self on the Monarch, for poshing him off the throne of IrelaiJKl. 
which, though he had quietly acquiesced in, for a dozen oi 
5-ears, yet it is plain he had not forgiven it. — JVarner 



UATTLE OP CLOKTARF. ^'< 

Sor would the Danes nor would the Irish yield, 

The blood in torrents pours along the lield. 

The left brave Cathal leads to meet the foes. 

Apostate Leinster's King he does oppose ; 

Their shields in front do form a brazen wall, 

Each man resolved to conquer or to fall ; 

Their shining javelins at their foes they fling, 

And louder still the brazen armour ring ; 

No ambuscade to dart upon the foe, 

But man meets man, and blows returned with blow 

And now from right to left, the closing war 

Does every man to single combat dare ; 

Closer and closer still the warriors pressed, 

Shield joins to shield, and nearly breast meets breast 

The victors on one side soon victims lie, 

And all resolve to conquer or to die ; 

Round all the field the purple blood does flow, 

And Erin's fate hangs on a single blow. 

How dreadful to behold such deadly strife^ 

Where every blow is followed by a life ; 

Firm and unmoved, just like a solid rock, 

The Danes and Irish stand the dreadful shock ; 

From every eye shoots forth the living fire. 

And man on man does gloriously expire ; 

jMars, bath'd in blood, the conflict does survey, 

And adds new horrors to the dreadful day. 

And now great Murrogh raised his father's shield^ 

Whose sevenfold orb no feeble arm could wield ; 

Beneath its^shade, encased in armour bright, 

Stood Murrogh's eldest son, prepared for fight ; 

Tho' not fifteen, he followed his great sire, 

For Erin's rights to conquer or expire. 



08 BATTLE OF CLONTARF. 

AVitli anxious gaze now Blurrogh views the field; 

And pondering thus — Ye gods ! must Erin yield r 

Her lovely daughters, humbled in the dust, 

Shall they, so heavenly fair, yield to their lust ? 

This lovely isle that decks the western main, 

Must it be ruPd by any haughty Dane ? 

My father, brothers, children, must they all 

Beneath the fury of these tyrants fall ? 

My wife — but hold, the thought does fire my brain 

This sea-girt isle shall groan with heaps of slain, 

Rivers of blood shall flow, whole hosts shall bend. 

And ghosts unnumbered to the shades Fll send, 

Ere she, or any daughter of this isle 

Shall to a Dane submit, or be his spoil. 

Thus having said, his falchion broad he drew. 

And 'midst the Danish hosts he quickly flew : 

So pours a winter's torrent o'er the plain. 

And in its course sweeps all into the main ; 

And if to save his grain the farmer tries, 

The mighty stream overwhelms him and he dies. 

So Murrogh thro' the Danes with fury broke, 

His course terrific, death in every stroke ; 

His eyes shot terror thro' the warring foe, 

They back recoil to shun the coming blow, 

His bloody path was strew'd with heaps of dead. 

And souls in thousands to old Pluto fled; 

Close by his side his son, young Turlogh stood, 

His maiden sword redden'd with human blood t 

To imitate his sire in warlike fight 

Was all his wish — was all his soul's delight. 

From right to left the father and the son 

Their dreadful course of devastation run * 



BATTLE OF CL0NTARI<\ 'I' 

The Danes in terror from their fury fled, 

rheir path was chokM with dying and with dead. 

(Jarolus and Conmael calPd by name, 

Two mighty Danes in fields of warlike fame, 

Their height gigantic, dreadful was their look. 

And glitt'ring^ falchions in their hands they shook ; 

Their ample shields were like the coming da}^, 

, j.nd oft were tried in many a Woody fray. 

Great Murrogh's dreadful course they mark'd afar^ 

Where, in the front, he tower'd the god of war ; 

Thus they commun'd- — Shall Murrogh's single arm 

Our hosts defy and fill us with alarm ? 

Our force let's join, and meet him on the field : 

Shall we, inured to arms, to Murrogh yield ? 

If forc'd to fly to Denmark's frozen coast. 

Our honor.'s fled, our hard-earned laurels lost : 

The beauteous maids we love will us disdain, 

First let our breathless corses strew the plain, 

Ere with disgrace to Denmark we return. 

And cause our warlike sires in tears to mourn. 

Thus having said, their shining swords they drew^ 

To stop great Murrogh's course they quickly flew. 

The hero marked them as they did advance. 

And at them flung his brazen-pointed lance; 

Carolus' shield it struck and pierced it througli. 

And from his side a purple current drew. 

Prone on his face the Danish warrior lies. 

He bites the dust, he trembles and he dies ! 

His mighty soul now seeks the nether world, 

f>y Murrogh's spear to Pluto's regions hurl'd. 

And now Conmael threw his vengeful dart, 

He aim'd it at the warrior's gen'rous heart, 



hO BATTLE OF CLONTAR*'. 

It cut the liquid air and struck his shield. 

And quivering stood within its brazen field. 

And now the warriors drew their falchions bright- 

The Danes and Irish trembled at the sight ; 

Both armies now suspend the work of death, 

And silent stand on Clontarfs bloody heath. 

As famish'd vultures snuff and pant for blood, 

So P>lurrogh and the Danish champion stood ; 

Tiieir swords gleam'd dreadful o'er the dusky field, 

And death, grim monarch, hover'd o'er each shield ; 

At every stroke their armour did resound, 

.\nd purple torrents pour along the ground ; 

llis ponderous axe aloft great Murrogh threw, 

And on the Dane's high crest the weapon flew ; 

The brazen helmet burst with thundering sound. 

And rolled afar on the ensanguin'd ground ; 

The giant's skull was severed with the blow. 

The spouting blood in purple currents flow^ 

Groaning he fell on ClontarPs bloody plain. 

And soon was number'd with his fellows slain. 

Sitrick Mac Lodair with a chosen band 

Of hostile Danes, who bow'd to his command, 

Like a strong torrent pour'd along the field. 

And of the Irish many had to yield. 

Mac Lodair in their front, provok'd the war. 

His mighty falchion glittered from afar. 

He scattered death throughout the Irish host. 

And to the shades sent many a shrieking ghost : 

To stop its course now Murrough quickly flew. 

And from its sheath his might}'" axe he drew, 

High gleaming in the air aloft he flung 

Its mighty head — Mac Lodair's armour rung : 



BATTLE OF CLOXTARF. <».. 

iliro' his great body crush'd the weapon went, 
And with one blow his bones and bowels rent- 
Prone on the earth he falls, his soul takes flightj 
And wings her way to shades of endless night. 
"From morning sun thus did the battle rage, 
And blood and death did every soul engage ^ 
The scales of fate hung doubtful o'er the fields 
•^ And now the Danes and now the Irish yield.'' 
The sun declined apace toward the main, 
The solid earth did groan with heaps of slain^ 
The Irish courage could not be subdued, 
The work of death they gloriously pursued ; 
From morning sun, till nearly four o'clock, 
Tho' one to two, they stood the dreadful shock.. 
And now one glorious effort for to try, 
In columns close upon the foe they fly : 
.\s hungry wolves now prowling for their prey^ 
Unto the guarded fold do take their way, 
The watchful mastrff, should he dare to stand, 
His limbs they scatter o'er the fertile land ; 
They scale the fold, the flocks they do devour — • 
*irhus did the Irish on the Danish pour. 
Their spears extended in a polished line, 
Their glittering casques with burnish'd steel did shine; 
No force on earth could stop their bold career — ■ 
There lay a sever'd head — an arm here. 
The clash of arms, the victor's dreadful cry ; 
In heaps promiscuous Danes on Danes do die; 
In vain they raise their shields their lives to save, 
The ponderous axe does hurl them to their grave ; 
in vain they fly to shun the coming death, 
The whizzing spear o'ertakes and stops their breatii ; 



■&2 BATTLE OF CLONTARF. 

— 

Rivers of purple gore run o'er the plain, 
And flow in torrents to the western main-'— 
Their leaders gone — their brave battalions broke^ 
Vnd death or slavery sounds in every stroke ; 
Before the Irish swords they fly afar, 
And dying groans do mix with shouts of war ; 
Great Myrrogh thundered o'er the bloody field, 
With dealing death his sword he could not wield ;* 

* " His sword he could not wieid." Murrogh, at this time, 
llirough the uncommon use and exertion of his sword-arm, had 
hoth hand and arm so swelled and pained, as to be unable to lift 
them up. In this condition he was attacked, sword in hand, by 
Henry, a Danish Prince ; but Murrogh, closing in upon him, 
seized him with the left hand, shook him out of his coat of mail, 
and prostrating him, pierced his body with his sword, by fixing its 
pummel on his breast, and pressing the weight of his body on it. 
In this dying situation, he nevertheless seized the dagger which 
iumg by Murrogh's side, and with it gave him at the same time, a 
mortal wound ! The Dane expired on the spot ; but the Irish 
Prince lived until next morning, when he died like a hero and a 
Clirislian. — History of Ireland. 

The celebrated and liberal Dr. Warner gives a different account 
of the death of the brave and illustrious Murrogh :— 

" The best blood the Irish paid for the glorious victory of Clon- 
tarf, was not in open battle, but by treachery; for Murrogh, riding 
through the dead and wounded, after the flying enemy, was called 
to by one of the sons of the Danish King, who knew him, and who 
implored his help. The magnanimous Prince, whose mercy was 
not inferior to his courage, immediately dismounted ; and as he 
was lifting the Dane up, in order to give him succour, the perfidi- 
ous monster stabbed him to the heart. Thus fell the valiant and 
victorious Murrogh, the eldest son of Brian, who had fought by 
his father's side, from the early age of 14, with equal glory and 
success." 

The victory of Clontarf was purchased at an immense sacrifice ; 
jbr on the altars of that battle were immolated a Monarcli, who 



BATTLE OF CLONTARF. Oo 

Mh sinews swell'd, his sword now useless lies^ 
Yet lightning flashed with terror from his eyes ; 
This Henry spied, a Danish Prince of fame, 
He thought by Murrogh's death to raise his name : 
At the great hero's head he raised a blow, 
Though thus disabled, no inglorious foe ; 
The polished helm received the mighty stroke, 
And thus the Irish chieftain to him spoke : 
What tempts you thus on certain death to run, 
If Denmark you would see, this arm shun, 
Though useless now my blood-stained sword does lie, 
VV^ithin my grasp you're certain for to die ; 
Thus having said, he seized him by the hair 
With his left hand, and poised him high in air ; 
Out of his coat of mail he shook the Dane, 
And threw him prostrate oh the bloody plain; 
With his left hand he drew his well-tried sword, 
And waved it gleaming o'er the Danish lord, 
He clapped the pummel to his manly breast. 
On Henry's heart the glittering point did rest ; 
A passage through the crashing bones it found;, 
The wounded Dane in torment bites the ground. 
Though wounded thus, and welt'ring in his gore. 
He seized the dagger which great Murrogh wore, 
He quickly plunged it in the hero's side. 
And at the wound out flow'd a purple tide ; 



might, with justice, be termed the last of the Heherian Kings, as 
well as his son, Murrogh, and his grandson, the gallant and youth- 
ful Turloch, several of his nephews, and many other illustrious 
Chiefs, whose fame Dr. Keatmgand Mr. O'Halloran have inscrih- 
etl oa tlie historic pillar of immortality. 



^34 BATTLE OF CLOXTARF. 

Great Marroglr falls, his glittering arms resoniKi 

Tlie purest blood in Erin stains the ground ; 

Surrounded by his men the warrior lay, 

Whose sword struck terror through the foe that day 

Nor could the Danish host the hero scare, 

-Tie glittered foremost in the ranks of war ; 

In peace a friend, both steady- and sincere, 

Lov'd by his friends, e'en foes did him revere. 

Ilis drooping men, now joining shield to shield. 

Raise him thereon, and slowly quit the field ; 

•Confusion reigned throughout the Danish host, 

Their leaders gone, their hope of plunder lost : 

Close at their heels the Irish swords are seeP;; 

And sever'd legs and arms strew the green ; 

The Danes in terror fly wide o'er the plain 

To quit our Isle and ne'er return again. 

An aid-de-camp of Brian's, O'Corcoran nam'd : 

Had mark'd the royal standard where it flam'd. 

Now saw it struck, when gallant Murrogh fell. 

The tent he enters the sad news to tell ; 

TJefore a crucifix upon his knees. 

The aged Monarch bent, O'Corcoran sees ; 

To horse, he cries, my sire, and quit the plains. 

For now we are surrounded by the Danes, 

The battle's lost, I saw our standard ta'en, 

O! fly and save your life nor here remain. 

Do you, says Brian, from the Danish fly, 

This field 1 sought to conquer or to die ; 

My foes shall never boast I ran away, 

Nor fell inglorious on this well fought day : 

This said, he drew his sword, it gleam'd afar. 

Ilis dear companion in the fields of war : 



BATTLE OP CLONTARF. . GS^ 

Kirm and iinmovM the hoary monarch stood, 
Resolved in Erin's cause to spill his blood. 
Brodar, the Dane, now with a chosen few, 
Enters the tent and at the monarch flew. 
The grey-hair'd champion on his guard does stand, 
And pierced his heart amidst his Danish band ; 
^T\v^ of his soldiers yielded up their breath 
To Brian's sword, and met a glorious death ; 
Thus, like a stag at bay, though bow'd with years, 
Surrounded by his foes, the king appears, 
He hurl'd his sword around which oft was tried, 
At equal fight, he all the Danes defy'd. 
At length a treacherous Dane behind him came, 
By Brian's death to raise his grovelling name, 
llis vengeful sv/ord in Brian's sacred side, 
Transpierced he ran — out flow'd a purple tide ; 
The Monarch reels — he falls — he gasps for breath,* 
Erin ! he sigh'd — and closed his eyes in death. 

* "As though born always to share the same fate in war aboiil 
the same moment that his brave son mef With his ignoble deatli, 
Ihe aged Monarch, fatlier of his line, was basely slaughtered in 
his pavilion by some of the routed Danes, who seeing it un<»-uard- 
ed, stopped long enough to butcher the helpless, hoary King, and 
too long to preserve themselves, being all of them cut to pieces. 
In this deplorable manner ended the glorious many days of Brian, 
King of Munster, and Monarch of all Ireland. He commanded 
in more engagements than Julius Caesar; distinguished liimself in 
all of them with amazing intrepidity, and^ even fought up to the 
<-haracter of a hero in romance. In short, it may be said of Brian, 
that he was a progidy of goodness, of understanduig, and of great- 
ness. To look at him through his piety, one would think he had 
spent his entire life in a cloister ; to examhie the productions of 
his genius, we should be inclined to believe that his whole time iiad 
6* 



<''» BATTLE OF CLOXTARF. 

,T1jc prince of Ulster now the lent drew near. . 

Brian's faithful ally and his friend so dear, 

In quest of Brodar's part\^ — alas ! too late 

To save the mighty monarch from his fate ; 

But when he spied the hero as he lay, 

To grief his manly breast became a prey ; 

Prone on the monarch's bosom he does fall ^ 

And cries — my friend, m)'' monarch, and my all 

Has thy great soul now wing'd her airy flight 

To joys above, to never-ending night ; 

Krin may weep, her champion is no more, 

Again his equal ne'er will tread our shore ; 

Since thou art gone no longer will I stay, 

But join thy train in bright realms of day ; 

The wounds which he in battle did receive 

Now burst afresh, which did his soldiers grieve : 

Farewell, my friends he cried, revenge my death, • 

And by his monarch's side resigned his breath ! 

Their souls aloft did soar, there to reside 

^Midst those who for tiieir faith and country died. 

Thus fell the immortal Brian, aged eighty-eight, 

A warrior bold, likewise a statesman great ; 

In times of peace was gentle as the dove, 

11 is soul was tuned to harmony and love ; 

But when his .country's wrongs required his aid. 

The brazen front of war he calm surveyM ; 

Twenty-nine battles on the ensanguined plains, 

Gi-Qixi Brian led against the haughty Danes ; 

been occupied in literature and t])e sciences ; and to view him as ;. 
•ijenei-al and a monarch, he appears to have studied nothing but t ho 
i!t of ivar and politics, the conquest oi' his enemies, and the easf 
ind pvosperitv of his subjects!." — Warner-s History of Ireland. 



BATTLE OF CLONTARF. GT 

He rais'J this isle from slavery and disgrace 
To be a glorious and a happy place ; 
He lovM his country, but his subjects more : 
He arts encouraged round old Erin's shore ; 
He to his foes was dreadful in the field, 
But the oppress'd he'd from oppression shield ; 
The laws enacted by him were rever'd, 
And in his reign all robbers disappeared ; 
Learning and religion flourish'd in our islC; 
Beneath his sway the rich and poor did smilo ; 
A christian, statesman, and a soldier great; 
In council wise, and steady in debate ; 
All virtues centered in his royal breast. 
And his loved name by Irishmen is bless'd ; 
When told the field was lost, the hero shone; 
Go thou, he cried, I face the foe alone; 
To die or conquer here I took the field 
To no inglorious wounds does Brian yield ; 
My foes shall never boast I fled with fear, 
" Let come what comes," I stand and rally here , 
There shone the man who for old Erin's good^ 
And for her freedom offered up his blood. 
Read this; degenerate sons^ of such a sire ; 
Read this and blush, and wonder, and admire z 
Such was great Brian, such his warriors bold. 
They died all free, nor favi^n'd for paltry gold ; 
How glorious was their fate, how just the cause- 
To die for Erin and her ancient laws ! 
Their sonls immortal, soar'd to endless light, 
Where tyrants never go to blast their sight ; 
O ! Erin's sons, their virtue imitate, 
For to be good is surely to be great. 

END OF THE POEM. 



CHARACTER OF BRIAN 

BY MR, O'HALLORAN. 



The following character of Brian is given by ]\Ir. 
O'Halloran :— 

" It was the custom in those days, when the Chief 
of a Clan fell'in battle, to lower the standard belong- 
ing to his house, as each Chief had his own particu- 
lar standard. Murrogh, being Brian's son, and Com- 
mander-in-chief, when he fell, the royal standard was 
struck ; and in the general deroute, unable to distin- 
guisli friend from foe, O'Corcoran concluded that the 
royal army was defeated ; he hastily entered the tent 
of Brian, who was on his knees before a crucifix, 
and requested he would immediately mount his horse 
and escape, for that all was lost. 

" Then it was that the Hero and the Monarch bla- 
zed forth in their utmost lustre. " Do you," says he^ 
" and my other attendants fly ; it was to conquer or 
to die, that I came here, and my enemies shall not 
boast the killing me by inglorious wounds." So say- 
ing, he seized his sword and battle-axe, his constant 
companions in war, and resolutely waited the event, 
Tn the general confusion, Brodar, the Dane, and a 
few followers, entered the Royal tent. Brodar was 
armed from head to foot, and yet the gallant old Chier^^ 



70 CHARACTER OF BRIAN. 

pierced his body through his coat of mail ; two more • 
of his attendants met the same fate, and Brian re- 
ceived his death by a fourth. 

"Thus fell the immortal Brian in the eighty-eighth 
year of his age ; the most uniformly perfect charac- 
ter that History can produce. If we consider him in 
his military capacity, we should suppose that the 
study of arms superceded every other object. In 
twenty-five different rencontres, and twenty-nine 
pitched battles, did he engage his Danish and other 
enemies, and victory always attended h'ls standard. 

" He gave vigour and force to the laws, and the 
sons of rapine and plunder instantly disappeared. 
He re-established religion and letters, and was the 
fust Irish Prince who laboured to reform and convert 
iiis Danish subjects. He was terrible to his enemies 
in the field ; he was mild and merciful in the cabinet : 
and during his whole reign, a single act of cruelty 
and injustice cannot be laid to his charge. . 

" In shof-t, as a soldier, a statesman, a legislator, a 
christian, and a scholar, he had not a superior ; and 
if any thing can blazon his character higher, it must 
be his manner of dyin j : at the age of eighty-eight, 
when the vital forces sensibly decay — at a time when 
he was requested to retire to his tent from the hor- 
rors of the day ; under these circumstances he was 
told all was lost^ and himself requested to flee. Then 
it was that the hero blazed forth, silvered over with 
age, surrounded by his enemies, he stood on his guard, 
aadlaid the Danish Chief, with two of his folio wjersr 



CHARACTER OP BRIAN. Ti 

lead at his feet. This was closing the scene with 
true dignity. With him fell the vitals of the Irish 
Constitution, and likewise the power of the Danes 
in Ireland. This battle broke their power, and the 
survivors took an eternal farewell of Erin, after 
having maintained a footing in it for near two hun- 
:l!-ed years.'' 



'FINIS. 



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